2nd Edition
by Paul Strack and Stacey Lawless (2 May 95)
New Orleans has one of the most colorful histories of any city in the United States. It has changed national hands several times, birthed "the only truly American art form": Jazz, and has long had a reputation for greed and vice. The history below describes the roles Camarilla kindred have taken in the growth of the city.
The first vampire, Alejandro Ruiz-Castillano, arrived in New Orleans of French Louisiana in 1727, fleeing enemies in Spain. Alejandro had been allied with the Sabbat, but no longer wanted anything to do with the Sect. The Sabbat sent some Assamites to New Orleans after Alejandro, but he was able to fake his own death, evading pursuit. Thereafter, Alejandro struggled to keep his existence a secret.
Alejandro spent the next 50 years or so fighting against the natives, and keeping the colony alive. At the same time, he didn't want the city to become too organized and efficient. The city's reputation for loose morals and criminal activities enabled Alejandro to feed in the small town without too much difficulty. Alejandro weathered the transfer to Spain in 1766 well. Initially, he feared it was a move by his European enemies, but apparently he had been forgotten.
No other vampires came to New Orleans until 1781, when Maria and Annabelle, two powerful Toreadors, passed through the city on their way to the United States. With Maria's powerful Auspex, they found Alejandro easily, much to his chagrin. Still, he had been without vampiric society for more than half a century, and was starved for company. He "allowed" them to stay as his guest.
Maria and Annabelle organized the first opera in the city, and Alejandro was content. It was not to last, however. In 1784, Maria became attracted to a talented free Mulatto pianist, Accou. Alejandro was fearful and jealous. He thought that if Maria embraced Accou, the careful secrecy he had worked to maintain would collapse. To prevent this, he had several street toughs rough up Accou, breaking his hands. This served only to press Maria on, and she asked Annabelle to embrace Accou at once.
Alejandro was furious, and insisted all of them leave immediately. Rather than risk a confrontation in the tiny frontier town, the Toreadors left. Soon after, Accou parted ways with his white mentors, unable to maintain the same society as them. He made his way to the free black communities of Cuba, but nursed his hatred of Alejandro, and a desire to return to his home.
In New Orleans, there was another reaction to the vampire's activities. Father Antonio de Sedella, hearing rumors of dark secrets in the city, arrived from Spain in 1788. He spoke to the Spanish governor Miro about establishing the Inquisition. Miro's response was to have him deported. Sedella was not discouraged, and returned in 1790, this time as a "simple priest". He made himself popular with the common people, while secretly trying to root out the Alejandro. Neither of them was able to do much against the other; Alejandro was too powerful, and Sedella was too much in the public eye. Sedella established a secret society, the Order of Saint George, as an outpost of the Inquisition that would continue his fight after his death.
When Louisiana was sold to the United Stated in 1803, Alejandro realized he could no longer evade interaction with other vampires. He sent communications to the Camarilla forces in the process of overrunning the nation, and helped eliminate fleeing Sabbat. He gave tentative invitations to anyone willing to acknowledge him as prince. With the influx of Americans, the mortal population of the city grew at a phenomenal rate, and the first vampires arrives in the 1820's.
The areas outside of the city were not safe. There were many nomadic Sabbat packs, who were mysteriously able to avoid the Lupines of the wilderness. The most powerful of these packs was led by John A. Murrell. Murrell was engaged in an elaborate plot to incite a black uprising in the 1830's, to destroy Camarilla vampires and extend the Sabbat territory from Mexico to Louisiana.. The uprising failed, and many of his followers were killed, but Murrell escaped.
Because of the Sabbat, the Camarilla vampires stuck close to the city. To help control the new vampires, Alejandro embraced Francesca Thierry, his first progeny. Generally, he was high handed in his dealings with other vampires, but controlled too many mortal institutions for any serious opposition to develop. In other words, he was a typical prince.
In 1855, Accou secretly returned to New Orleans. He began to develop support amongst the other vampires in the city. With the help of the Brujah Annie, Accou built up his contacts in amongst the local black community. Accou's greatest efforts were directed at Alejandro's get, Francesca. Accou felt that if he could get this Ventrue to turn against her sire, he would have won the battle before the war had begun.
Alejandro's actions during the American Civil War set the stage. Rather than take sides in the war between the north and south, Alejandro allowed New Orleans to be captured early in the war. In this way, he could sit things out, neutral, and then deal with whoever won the war. This angered vampires on both sides of the conflict, and any support Alejandro had fell away.
Alejandro remained prince through the war, but in 1870 his opponents made their move. The government of Louisiana was in disarray due to reconstruction, and the newly freed blacks of the state gained sudden influence. This enabled Annie and Accou to undermine Alejandro's mortal support. Francesca, who could see which way the wind was blowing, agreed to stay out of the fight. With his power structure in shambles, Alejandro was easier to find, and his haven was burnt to the ground in 1871.
All that remained was for Accou to deal with his erstwhile allies. Annie's biggest source of power in the black community was the infamous Voudou queen Marie Laveau, who had been Annie's ghoul since 1837. Accou secretly encouraged a Tremere from Atlanta, who found Marie's power too much to pass up. This Tremere, Bristol, embraced Marie in 1889, and the Brujah made ready for war.
Just when things seemed about to go too far, Accou stepped in to mediate. Accou got Marie and Bristol to agree to leave the Voudou and black communities alone, and Annie called off her war. It was already to late for the Brujah, though. The Voudou community split into dozens of small groups without Marie's leadership. Reconstruction was already ending, and along with it all black influence in politics. Accou was ready to pick up new pawns, but Annie was not. The Brujah's influence waned, while Accou was officially acknowledge prince. Still, his treatment of Annie during this period was so charming that it wasn't until decades later that she suspected he had a hand in her fall.
Under Accou and the Toreador, New Orleans became a city of Art and Beauty of all kinds. Opera and Jazz flourished side by side, and New Orleans became famous for its parties and wild affairs, especially Mardi Gras. Unfortunately, Accou had only wanted to oust Alejandro, and had little flair for ruling himself. Slowly control of the city slipped from his undead hands.
The early part of the 20th century saw the birth of what many call "the only true American artform": Jazz. This new form of music emerged first in New Orleans, and many later kindred wondered why in a city of Toreadors, none of the great Jazz musicians were embraced. The simple fact of the matter is that they missed their chance. The Toreador Katherine had a major influence over the artistic opinions of the city. As an opera Diva, she saw little of value in the new art form.
A few of the Toreador thought otherwise, but were hesitant to risk Katherine's scorn. In addition, the Brujah Annie made it clear she was unhappy with the Toreador messing with "her people". By the 1930's, the early greats of Jazz had moved north to cities like Chicago and New York. Since then, the Toreador have worked to make up for their mistake, encouraging Jazz in New Orleans whereever they can. Only Katherine remains staunch in her opposition to it.
During the 19th century, Sedella's Inquisitors had been watching vampiric society from afar. They were aware of the power of their enemy, and did not want to attack until they were certain they could destroy all the vampires in the city. At last they found a champion. The brilliant Nathaniel Bordruff, a minister of the Church of Christ, was perhaps the greatest vampire hunter they had ever trained. The Inquisition felt that with his leadership, they could at last wipe the vampiric scourge from New Orleans.
Nearly every clan lost one kin. Accou was enraged at Bordruff's activities, but was unable to track him. The Order of St. George was unknown to the kindred of the city after the death of Alejandro. Marie Laveau saw an opportunity in the killings. She chafed at the cold Hermetic rule of her sire, Bristol, and plotted his demise. Marie left evidence leading to Bristol's haven for Bordruff to find, and weakened the protective wards there. Once Bordruff slew her sire, Marie calmy went to Accou for "justice".
It was the Nosferatu elder Virginia who finally caught Bordruff. With Marie's help, she lured Bordruff out into the Bayou, away from his allies. Virginia suspected foul play on the part of both Marie and Accou, however, and made plans of her own. Rather than killing Bordruff, she embraced him.
Accou agreed that Bordruff was neutralized, and saw poetic justice in Virginia's act. Besides, he could not act directly against the hero that had saved the vampire community from a threat that he had done little to stop. Marie fumed, but did nothing, afraid of what Virginia may have discovered. Accou drove Bordruff from the city. Bordruff continued hunting elsewhere for a time, but eventually gave it up and drifted to Chicago.
After the vampire slayings, Accou's popularity was at low ebb. Many of the older vampires were growing hostile. Furthermore, there were political changes that bode ill for Accou's Democratic political machine. A populist governor swept the state, and began to look like he might sweep the nation. Huey Long appealed to the common man, not only making promises to improve their lives, but keeping those promises as well. Accou's old politicians were limited to the city of New Orleans, and were losing ground there as well.
Accou couldn't tell who, if anyone, was backing Long, but it took all of Accou's time to simply hold onto power. Accou began to question whether or not he even want the princedom. He no longer had time to devote to his arts and entertainment. Clearly there were others after the Princedom, and Accou didn't want to share Alejandro's fate. After all, new princes could rarely afford to leave an old prince alive.
Suddenly, Accou's situation altered radically. In 1934, Accou began saying he was not actually the prince, but was rather the Lieutenant of the true Prince. Yet the new prince was unwilling to present himself, and Accou was left to enact his policies. The Malkavians loved it, and the other city elders hesitated. Most of them thought it was a ridiculous ploy on the part of Accou, but they decided to watch and wait, just in case. Accou could devote his time to artistic pursuits, and the city drifted, leaderless.
The situation persisted for a decade. Long was assassinated, and his movement floundered. The Masquerade began to stretch, and Anarchs flowed into the city, interested in its "lawless" state. The Camarilla hounded Accou, but he would only say he had to obey the dictates of the true prince. By the time the elders decided to act, the city was too unstable for any of them to take direct action. None of them were sure which way the Anarchs would turn, and none could stage a coup without breaking the Masquerade.
The strangest part of the affair is that while things seemed chaotic, nothing truly disastrous would happen. A neonate would overstep her bounds by creating a large brood, and then the neonate and all her progeny would vanish. A vampire skirting close to the edge of the Masquerade would undergo mysterious attacks until he desisted or was slain. No one was certain who was carrying out these policies, but the elders were convinced it was Accou.
The truth was stranger still. Initially, the entire "true Prince" story was indeed a ploy on the part of Accou to gain time. Unknown to Accou, however, Alejandro had risen from a long torpor in 1928, and was behind many of Accou's recent problems. Alejandro saw through Accou's ploy immediately, but decided to take advantage of it. In 1938, he caught Accou unaware, and battered down his mental defenses. From that time forward, Alejandro was dominating Accou, and was the true power behind the prince.
Neither Accou or Alejandro were motivated to alleviate the city's chaos, for fear that another elder would then stage a coup. Thus, the city continued on its strange course. Many vampires embraced after the 40's didn't know better, and assumed Accou's story of being the prince's Lieutenant was true. The elders from before that time believed it was all a game, but feared it was too dangerous to call his bluff.
In many areas, vampires could do as they pleased, but there were limits. No one could create more than one progeny without attracting the attention of others. No one could kill other kindred without retaliation. A group of Ancillae vampires called the Krewe of Janus chose to make it their job to protect the Masquerade. The kindred of the city learned these tacit rules, sometimes the hard way. Accou and Alejandro enforced these laws, usually through pawns and double blinds.
The city worked, but the situation was intolerable to the Inner Circle of the Camarilla. After numerous missives to the "prince" of the city were simply ignored, the Camarilla sent the Gangrel Justicar Alexis to New Orleans in 1960 to restore order. Alexis quickly alienated all the local vampires with his high handedness. At the same time Anarchs from the California Free States were flowing east to spread their movement, and New Orleans was one of their targets. The local vampires played the Anarchs and the Justicar against one another, and quickly there was war in the streets. Alexis was too occupied with Anarchs to pursue the prince.
The Anarchs and Alexis were dead-locked for several years. The city elders worked behind the scenes to make certain no side would gain the advantage, and protected their own holdings. Finally Alexis withdrew in disgust, for there were more important things for him to deal with elsewhere. After he left, the elder stepped in, dropped their support of and subduing the battered Anarchs, and things returned to "normal".
After the defeat of Alexis, the Camarilla let New Orleans be. The elders of the city play a dangerous game. The city's lack of direction makes for fractious politics. The elders work quietly with schemes within schemes. Younger vampires are only peripherally aware of these struggles, and are often used as pawns. They believe New Orleans is a city of great freedom, and the "prince" will only act against the direst of crimes.
This carefree attitude gained the city a reputation as a vampire city even amongst mortals. To deal with this situation, the elders agreed to a wild scheme by the Malkavian elder, Claire. She dominated a local author to write a series of stories about Vampires, set in New Orleans. The books became successful, and had the same effect for New Orleans as the book Dracula had for Vlad Tepes. New Orleans kept its vampire mystique, but mortals attributed it to the books, and didn't take it seriously.
Since the Anarch Wars, it seems that there has been a higher presence of Setites in the city than there has been in the past. Before, a Snake would appear periodically, to be ruthlessly wiped out by the elders. Lately, the Setites are appearing in greater numbers, and some of the younger vampires are engaged in active warfare with the Snakes.
The local Gangrel have always been somewhat environmentally conscious. Of late, some of them have become appalled at the level of pollution in Louisiana. Elder vampire actions against Lupines have been largely successful, and there is little Garou presence here to counter the worst corporations. Things have gotten so bad that the area north of New Orleans is called Cancer Alley. A few of the Gangrel have begun to fill in the void with direct action against polluters. The things they are encountering are rather strange.
In 1985, Raymond Wallace, a young ghoul, managed to kill Francesca, the Ventrue clanhead. With the help of the Anarchs, Wallace escaped. This threw the Ventrue clan into disarray. The Anarch gang called the Lost Angels helped Raymond, escape, and the Ventrue retaliated by killing their leader. Since then, the Ventrue have bickered amongst themselves for leadership of the clan, while the Angels regrouped and nursed their grudge.
To make matters more complex, Accou has become strong enough to resist Alejandro's mental control. Accou has slowly been building up his own position, pretending to still be under Alejandro's power. Alejandro noticed Accou's actions, but not before it had gone too far for him to block. Neither Accou or Alejandro are certain they could beat the other, so both pretend nothing has changed. If truth be told, the two have been fighting so long that neither would know what to do if their foe perished. Thus, for now, they maintain their facades, and continue their slow and dangerous dance of deceit.
Ever since Francesca's fall, the Ventrue have been bickering over who would be their new leader. That has recently come to an end. Rebecca, the younger of the two candidates, had a ghoul go rogue on her, and threaten the Masquerade. With her loss of face, there was no alternative but to have Slane, the other candidate, step in as clanhead. Not everyone is pleased with situation, however, and further scheming is likely.
New Orleans has a relatively small population, with perhaps 1 million perhaps in its Urban area. Yet this city supports more than 40 Camarilla vampires, and perhaps 20 more non-Camarilla vampires. By Camarilla standards, the city is grossly overpopulated. As a result, the city has a reputation for vampirism, even amongst mortals.
There are only minimal laws governing vampiric breeding, so there is little to control the population. Yet there are several forces hunting vampires (including some other vampires), and many younger ones die before long. It is as if nature pressures keep the vampiric population down. Some of the dead are listed here, particularly those that were important in the past. There are others who only lasted a year of two who are not listed.
There are five levels of secrets, rated A-F. Each character in this supplement has a secrets rating showing how much that know. A character knows everything for their rating and every lower rating, i.e. a character with a B in secrets assumes the knowledge in C though F as well. Some characters have notes on additional secrets they know.
Vampires are extremely reticent when it comes to handing out information. If they do it at all, it will be for a price, and they will give as little as they possibly can. Some vampires do not hesitate to hand out false rumors, however. If discovered, they blame the "source" of their information, preferably a source the players will be too intimidated to check (What? But Marie Laveau herself told me!)
Annie Christmas (8th)
| Dezi (D)
Pinch (9th) | (Foxfire) (9th)
| Isis (10th) |
Elaine (D) | Jonah (11th)
| Horus (D) |
Bastian (11th) Eris D. (12th)
The city's Brujah are typical of the clan, in that they have little political power, and often work against the establishment. A fair number of them are Anarchs. A significant portion of the clan is black, and most of the Brujah are sensitive to civil rights issues. The Brujah are involved in many diverse activities, not always in cooperation with one another. They will, however, help each other out in a scrape.
Annie was born a slave on a Georgia plantation controlled by a white Ventrue with a taste for immortal blood. The plantation was home to several Brujah vampires, all of whom were blood bound to an overseer, who was bound to the Ventrue. This ensured the Ventrue a steady supply of kindred vitae. After serving as part of the herd for the Brujah for many years, Annie was turned into one of the vampiric slaves. Unwilling to accept her lot, she encouraged the overseer to rebel. He was slain, but she and several other Brujah were able to flee (including Pug Jackson of Dark Colony).
Annie made her way west into the newer territory, and was attracted to New Orleans for its large free black community. She worked to expand her influence within this community, initially through the Voudou religion, and after the civil war through the newly enfranchised blacks in the Republican party. As she grew in physical power, she became a local mythological figure, Annie Christmas, a powerful black woman who could do anything. Annie made extensive use of ghouls to maintain her control in the black community. The most important were Marie Laveau, the Voudou Queen, and P.B.S. "Pinch" Pinchback, an opportunistic black politician.
In 1881, Marie was embraced by a Tremere for her magical power. Infuriated, Annie quickly embraced Pinch, and prepared for war. Only the intercession of the Prince Accou, whom Annie respected as a fellow negro, prevented blood shed. The Tremere agreed to leave the Voudou community alone, and Annie let them be. Unfortunately, with Marie gone the Voudouns split into numerous small factions. Also, reconstruction was ending, and black influence was waning. Bitterly, Annie watched her power crumble and her people wane.
Annie began the slow process of rebuilding her power, culminating in the civil rights victories of 1960's, but she never forgot her initial defeat. Although Annie is physically powerful, she feels inadequate in the political arena, and is constantly worried that she is being manipulated by the other elders of the city. She is particularly bitter towards Accou, for she is certain he had a hand in her fall, and feels betrayed.
The only other vampire Annie truly respects is the gangrel elder Jesse. Annie and the Choctaw shaman have been friends for more than a century, and lovers on and off. She admires his strength and nobility, but worries about the remorse he feels for his lost people. She wishes he would free himself from the past, to be better able to help in battle in the here and now.
Age: "25", 8th Generation, born 1786, embraced 1813 by Joseph, arrived 1825
Image: Annie is an imposing black woman, and her tremendous strength shows in her build. Her facial features are solid, but not unappealing. She is probably the most physically powerful vampire in the city. She keeps her long black hair up in a "southern" kerchief, as she did in her days as a slave. As for the rest of her dress, she tends to be pragmatic, wearing jeans and dark button down shirts.
Influence: Annie has extensive contacts in the black community and with civil rights movement. She also has several black street gangs under her thumb, for muscle. She has a lot of influence with the Anarch gang KLF. Annie's main weakness is an inability to handle politics. She tends to take a direct approach to problems. The other elders see her as easy to manipulate, but if Annie can find a clear target, she often gets what she wants through simple brute force and persistence. Her only support amongst the elders is the Gangrel Jesse; in fact, they are blood bound to one another.
Secrets: B
Habitat: Annie has several havens in the black ghettos, with "her people". She hunts in white urban neighborhoods, cross-dressing as a male mugger, using this to work out some of her frustration at the lack of progress in civil rights. She occasionally hunts the Elysium, as is her "right" as an elder.
Goals: Annie still wants to improve life for African Americans. She also would like to see most of the other elders taken down, but has little taste for ruling herself. She has begun to work on the Brujah in the Snake Hunters, to get another group of powerful warriors under her influence.
P.B.C. "Pinch" Pinchback was a free black, who made a good living as a riverboat gambler along the Mississippi. After the civil war, he used his money to launch a political career, taking advantage of the new black power during Reconstruction. He was elected lieutenant governor, became governor for 25 days after the death of his white predecessor, and was finally elected the US Senator of Louisiana. Pinch's career ended there, however. Unknown to him, Pinch had been the ghoul of the Brujah vampire Annie Christmas all this time. The changing circumstances of the 1880's forced her to embrace him. He was unable to continue in politics, and in any case, reconstruction was ending.
The next 50 years were bad ones for the blacks and the Brujah, and Pinch made due as best he could. He took to controlling several gambling houses, and was often at odds with the Ventrue organized crime elements of the city. Pinch was resourceful though, and managed to rebuild his wealth. He branched out of the white community, and took to controlling white businesses, much to the disgust of his sire, Annie.
When the civil rights issues of the 1960's rolled around, Pinch was taken completely by surprise. He had been so used to black oppression that he never conceived of anything different. Pinch was shaken, and reconciled himself with Annie, and together they worked to help lift up the black community. After 30 years of little progress, however, Pinch got tired of the work, and thought of going back to his old ways.
Pinch began to quietly support the Ventrue Slane in his bid for clanhead. Pinch hoped to snatch up some of the Ventrue businesses once Slane won his position, believing Slane to have little in the way of business sense. Pinch moved quietly, not wanting to alienate his sire. He was quite surprised at Slane's sudden victory. Pinch was rather upset, since he'd hoped that his backing would be more crucial for Slane. Slane still expresses his gratitude, but Pinch is unsure what to do. The business contacts might not be worth the trouble Slane seems to be bringing on himself.
Age: "30", 9th Generation, born 1837, embraced 1881 by Annie Christmas
Image: Pinch usually appears as a well dressed, upwardly mobile black businessman. His hair is always impeccable, short and straight. He keeps a gold watch in his right pocket, a souvenir he won in his riverboat gambling days.
Influence: Pinch owns several businesses. For the last twenty years, he has tried to implement policies favoring black employees, to please Annie, but is thinking of giving it up as pointless. Pinch is somewhat accepted by the more social Creole vampires; they respect him as they respect no other Brujah. Pinch keeps several ghoul bodyguards for protection, as well a few femme fatales, both for pleasure and espionage. All of Pinch's ghouls are white.
Secrets: B-
Habitat: Pinch has havens in a few of his businesses, one uptown mansion where he normally stays, and a ghetto haven for emergencies. He keeps a herd, made up of his employees and important business acquaintances.
Goals: Pinch is trying to maintain a balancing act of keeping the respect of his sire (for her physical power) and the Creole vampires (for their influence).
A strong black woman, embraced by Pinch in 1902 to help balance the Tremere's growing influence. She was killed by the vampire hunter Nathaniel Bordruff in 1923.
Robert Bastian was a visionary for his time, realizing that if socialism was ever fully practiced, it would mean full racial equality as well. His commitment attracted Elaine, a young black vampire, who embraced him to help him further the revolution. Bastian's communist vision didn't mesh well with the older black Brujah, however, and he was forced to take a separate course after his sire died. He eventually learned of the Anarch movement, and saw in it the same struggle as the workers against the rich.
It was long before Bastian could find sympathetic ears, but when the Anarch movement in New Orleans began to grow, Bastian was leading it. Bastian invited many Anarchs to the city in the late 50's, to take advantage of the city's freedom, and perhaps turn it into one of the Anarch Free States. Their arrival coincided with the Gangrel Justicar Alexis, with disastrous results. This severely hurt Bastian's relationship with Anarchs outside the city, though he is still well respected locally for his performance in the Anarch war. This is Bastian's greatest shame, however, as he is afraid he was a tool of the elders by bringing the Anarchs here to counter Alexis.
Still, Bastian made good use of his time since the end of the Anarch War. He has started to act more conciliatory toward Annie, the Brujah elder. He has no intention of knuckling under to her, but her support is useful, and he might be able to pry her away from civil rights into the Anarch movement. Under the "cover" of her support, Bastian has been able to rebuild his Anarch gang, and start making digs at the other elders of the city.
Age: "30", 11th Generation, born 1882, embraced 1911 by Elaine
Image: Bastian usually dresses in tan slacks and sweaters, and looks more like a college professor than an Anarch. His brown hair is cropped short in a hair style that is 20 years out of date. His brown eyes are usually soft, and his demeanor calm and reserved, but he can get very intense when speaking about the "cause".
Influence: Bastian has a lot of contact with local college students, especially those of a more alternative bent. He is still trying to instill them with communist ideals, in the face of the Soviet Unions collapse. He also keeps a few ghouls in city government, to foil elder schemes and to bail out Anarchs who get in real trouble.
Secrets: B- (He doesn't share all his knowledge with other Anarchs. This helps him keep what power he has amongst them.).
Habitat: Bastian keeps one haven on the Tulane campus, and another in a small suburban home that has been "for sale" for years. He hunts on the Tulane campus, but never kills, since it would ruin things for him.
Goals: Bastian sincerely believes in the Anarch cause, and want to overthrow the elders and set up an Anarch free state. After the debacle of the Anarch War, however, he is moving cautiously, countering the elders where he can. He is currently trying to learn their weaknesses, in the hopes that he can turn them against each other.
Isis was originally Emily Thurmon, a dedicated Egyptologist. She was embraced by a Brujah vampire named Dezi to further his personal vendetta against the Setites. After experiencing first hand the cruelty of this vampiric clan, Isis needed no more convincing. She came to New Orleans because it seemed to be one of the major ports of entry for the Setites. She planned to clean the Setites out of New Orleans, and go on to their Haitian strongholds, but they proved to be more tenacious here than she had expected.
Isis unlife is absorbed by her hunt. In the past, the only person who could draw her out was her childe and lover, Horus. When he was killed fighting Setites five years ago, Isis became more driven. She constantly scours the Setite's typical feeding grounds (drug dens, ghettos and sundry) looking for their presence. Once she finds a Setite temple, she ghouls a large number of human cannon fodder to use in her fight.
Isis helped to organize the Setite-haters of the city into a unified force. Despite her efforts and many victories, the Setites still slip into the city. Isis is beginning to realize that she is only swatting flies, while the real power behind the Setites is untouched. She is unaware that in her long fight with the snakes, she has adopted their ruthless treatment of mortals, and is becoming more like her enemy. She has recently been contacted by the Children of Osiris, another group of vampires that has long fought the Setites. She has yet to decide whether to ally with them, or to maintain her independence.
Age: "20", 11th Generation, born 1913, embraced 1936 by Dezi, arrived 1940
Image: Isis has long, straight, black hair and very pale skin. She usually keeps her hair up, especially when she is on a hunt. She makes her hazel eyes up in Egyptian style. She has a tendency to wear white blouses and cotton skirts, but has taken to wearing khaki when hunting at the suggestion of Charlie.
Influence: Isis is too busy with the hunt to develop outside influences. However, she is intimately familiar with the ins and outs of the darker places of the city, and knows where to find various different types of weaponry.
Secrets: C-, she also knows much of the Setite Clan's abilities and tactics.
Habitat: Isis changes her haven regularly, to avoid being tracked by Setites. She is currently sleeping in the Anthropology Department at Tulane university, because she is interested in a promising young Egyptology professor. Isis feeds on Setites and their ghouls when possible; otherwise she is not too discriminating.
Goals: Isis wants to destroy all Setites, everywhere. She would dearly love to learn who is the power behind the other Setites in the city. She has also been considering embracing another companion to take the place of the dead Horus.
Horus was embraced in 1962 by Isis, to aid her in her war on the Setites. He was killed in battle 1989, and Isis is still shaken by his death.
Jonah was embraced in the 60's at the height of the civil rights movement, and worked to further the movement in his unlife. He came to New Orleans because he had heard that the Brujah elders of the city fought the same fight. When he arrived, however, he found himself unable to understand the aged vampires, who had been raised when slavery was still a reality. Instead, he became caught up in the struggle of the Anarchs and the Justicar Alexis. He felt that the oppression of the young by the old to be the vampiric equivalent of racism, and joined the gang of the Anarch Bastian.
The violence of the last year of the Anarch War of shook Jonah deeply. He sought for meaning in a religion, and began his study of Voudou. The African roots of this religion appealed to him. In his quest, Jonah was secretly guided by the elder Brujah Annie, who wished to have more Brujah influence in the Voudou community. Afraid of the power of the Voudouns, and worried about crossing the territory of the Tremere, Marie Laveau, Jonah co-opted a white magickal group with connections to Santeria, so he could study Voudou safely from a distance.
Jonah wasn't the only vampire with his eyes on this cult. The Sabbat also noticed his interest in the group. When Jonah began to suspect the truth about another member of Bastian's gang, Simon, the Sabbat struck. The Sabbat embraced one of the cultists, Lisa, and use her to Blood Bind Jonah. For the next few years, the Sabbat used Jonah to learn about the Brujah and the Anarchs. He also firmed up Simon's position in Bastian's gang, to the point where his loyalty to the Anarchs is beyond question. Unfortunately, the Tremere Leah Hirsig spotted Lisa, and she was forced to leave town. The Sabbat, unable to risk Simon, lost their hold on Jonah. Jonah was sufficiently muddled by Dominate and the bond that he knew something had been wrong, but wasn't certain what.
Jonah has found himself a new cult, this time a group of Voudou. He drifts back and forth between the Anarchs and the Voudou community, but he is haunted by the years he cannot clearly remember, and the lingering Bond to Lisa. He is afraid he is a danger to his Anarch friends, and his nervousness has made Bastian's gang a little suspicious of him as well. The only one that really seems to trust him is Simon.
Age: "25", 11th Generation, born 1940, embraced 1963 by Foxfire, arrived 1964
Image: Jonah is the picture of a 60's black radical, complete with afro. His dated appearance has caused him problem before. If necessary, he clips his hair every night. Jasper tends to take a back seat to the more outspoken Anarchs, but is quick to respond to any racial slurs. He avoids carrying around the trappings of Voudou, still considering himself only a beginner in the religion.
Influence: Jonah has a few tentative contacts in the Voudou community. He is also secretly under the patronage of the Brujah elder Annie. He still has contacts in the more militant civil rights groups, and this is where he draws most of his strength. He is only nominally a member of the Anarch gang the KLF, but they still might help him out.
Secrets: C-
Habitat: Jonah is currently staying in a slum with a street gang of black ghouls who protect him during the day, and work for him at night. He often hunts with them, feeding off of their victims. Jonah wishes they would attack whites more often, but the gangs victims are usually other blacks. He never feeds on the Voudouns.
Goals: Jonah wants to remember the years that he's lost, and learn more about the Voudou religion with stepping on anyone else's toes. He is torn between going back to the Anarchs, or delving deeper into his African roots.
Note: In the early edition of Alt.NObN, Jonah was named Jasper.
Tammy Whiteshed was a feminist and a neo-pagan, who never quite realized she had missed the 60's. She was into anything that wasn't mainstream. She enthusiastically bucked the establishment, and eventually attracted the attention of the Anarch Jonah. He magickal dabblings particularly interested him. He embraced her, but got a bit more than he could handle. Tammy took to the idea of Anarchy like a duck to water, changing her name to Eris, and has promoted chaos ever since.
Eris quickly got out from under her sire, but found she needed help in the convoluted world of New Orleans vampires. She decided to stick with Jonah's gang, since they were Anarchs, after all. She charmed them all with her energy and enthusiasm, though some of the stuffier members miss her more obscure jokes. Eris is constantly making puns and sly references to different facets of modern culture.
Then Eris met her first Malkavian, and fell in love. Eris became a Malkavian fan-girl. She is convinced that Malkavian madness leads to some deep insight into the true nature of reality. She has become good friends with Janine, and even Claire Claremont finds Eris amusing. She likes to spend time with "visiting" Malkavians as well, especially during Mardi Gras. Eris is one of the few vampires to have approached Tinker, though she hasn't begun to crack that quiet woman's shell.
Age: "20", 12th Generation, born 1959, embraced 1978 by Jasper
Image: Eris varies her appearance daily, but she nearly always looks wild. She will wear tie-dyed skirts one day and red leather the next. Her hair is frizzy from the number of dye jobs she has done on it. Eris is always bouncy and enthusiastic, with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes and a smirk on her lips. Think Puck in female form.
Influence: Eris is genuinely charismatic, and makes friends easily. She has little in the way of permanent influence, though the Angels like her better than the other members of the KLF. She is also liked in Malkavian Circles.
Secrets: D, but occasionally picks up random bits of information from Malkavians.
Habitat: Eris D likes to keep on the move, and doesn't have fixed haven. She does the Brujah tricks of staying in suburban homes, hiding in warehouses, etc. If she's in a tight bind, she'll hit up other members of the KLF for crash space. She hunts in a similar manner, wherever she wants, except that she generally avoids the French Quarter.
Goals: Eris is making becoming friends with Tinker her current project. It is only a matter of time before the jealous Stainlype will do something about it.
Susan (D) Dolores (12th)
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Amanda (11th)---(Raymond) (11th) Black Francis (13th)
There are not many Caitiff in the city any longer. All of those who remain are Anarchs. There were more Caitiff in New Orleans before the Anarch wars, but they were all killed or driven away by the Justicar Alexis.
Unknown to anyone, Susan was the progeny of the Brujah Pinch, but she escaped him in the chaos of her embrace. She made her way West, and found a home in the Anarch Free States. She was one of the first Anarchs to come to New Orleans in the late 50's, as a precursor to the Anarch wars. She survived the fighting, though many of her friends did not. After the war, she chose to stay in her native city, and formed a small gang called the Lost Angels. They are successful for a time, but Susan went too far when she helped Raymond, the murderer of the Ventrue clan head. She was killed shortly thereafter.
Age: Embraced 1942 by Pinch, arrived 1958, killed 1986 by Ventrue for Raymond
Amanda was a street hardened young woman embraced by the Anarchs during their fight against the Justicar Alexis. Her early years was filled with terror, fighting ancient Gangrel Archons of the Camarilla. After the Anarchs were beaten, her sire Susan chose to stay in Louisiana. Amanda doted on her strong and courageous sire, and would not think of leaving her. Before her embrace she had been poor white city trash, but Susan gave her a reason to live. Together with other West Coast Anarchs who also chose to stay in New Orleans, they formed a small gang of "Lost Angels".
Shortly after the end of the war, the gang was approach by powerful Anarchs from the Free States and Europe, and asked to help run a Underground railroad, smuggling Anarchs into the U.S. from Europe, and from the East Coast to the West Coast. The "railroad" was to focus on ocean transport, because the land journey through the Rocky Mountains was dangerous given the extreme hostility of the Camarilla princes in that area. Susan was hesitant, not being well suited to the careful manipulations needed to control such a network, but Amanda was enthusiastic. She convinced Susan that she could develop and maintain the necessary contacts in the shipping industry. With the help of Didi and the non-New Orleans Anarchs, Amanda got the railroad up and running.
Amanda and her sire had just began to make a new place for themselves when Susan made a fatal mistake. Susan took in Raymond, the murderer of the Ventrue clanhead, Francesca. She embraced him out of admiration for his deed, and helped him escape through the railroad. The Ventrue came down on the game hard and fast. Susan and the gangrel Angel Jack Skokie were both killed, and Amanda and Didi were forced into hiding.
Several West Coast friends came calling to help the Angels with the mess, but everyone looked to Amanda for leadership. Amanda was distraught over Susan's death, and ached for revenge. Unfortunately, she also had a responsibility to a greater cause, and could not 'abandon the railroad, or risk its discovery. Amanda made the heart-rending decision to dig in rather than fight, to make sure no one and nothing else would be lost.
At the time, the other Angels respected Amanda's decision, but years have passed and there has been little more in the way of Ventrue retaliation. If the truth be told, after the initial rush to catch Francesca's murderer, the Ventrue fell to internal squabbling, and forgot all about the Lost Angels. The ribbings from the KLF over the gang's timidity really grate, especially considering the tough attitude some of the other gang members. Amanda is beginning to question her decision herself. Was she being excessively paranoid? Should she have done more to avenge Susan? Was she just afraid of having more friends die? As Amanda's resolve falters, the other Angels whet their blades for revenge.
Age: "25", 11th Generation, born 1941, embraced 1965 by Susan
Image: Amanda dresses simply, in T-shirts and Jeans. She keeps her auburn hair cropped short. Amanda has a "worried" air about her, and is concerned for the safety of her Cotery-mates more than anything else. She prefers to err on the side of caution.
Influence: Amanda has a few contacts in the Anarchs out west, and her work on the railroad has earned her a lot of favors from other Anarchs around the world.
Secrets: C-
Habitat: In her years of hiding from the Ventrue, Amanda has established numerous hidey-holes for use. She shares them with other members of the Lost Angels, and sometimes other Anarchs in need. She has a circle of people she regularly feeds on, mostly while they are sleeping.
Goals: Amanda is not comfortable with being the leader of the Lost Angels, but is determined to do the best job she can. She wants the gang to survive and thrive. She tends to lean heavily on Dolores for support on leadership issues.
Dolores was a free riding Hell's Angel, with no cares other than her loyalty to the other bikers in her gang. One evening in a California truck stop, the bikers took on the wrong group of people. Most of them had the sense to run when their opponents sprouted fangs and claws, but Dolores didn't like running from a fight. The Anarchs she was fighting admired her tenacity, and decided to embrace her.
Dolores treated the Anarchs like her new gang, though she kept some quiet ties to the Hells Angels as well. In the 60's when there were Anarch uprisings all over the country, Dolores ended up in New Orleans. Though she liked to scrap, she didn't really have her heart in the cause. She couldn't care less of all the stuffy elders were alive or not, so long as they left her alone. She fell in with another Anarch named Susan who had more defined goals. Susan led the group, and Dolores taught them how to have fun.
After things went bad, Dolores decided to head back to the west coast. She tried to talk Susan into coming with her, but Susan was determined to stay in New Orleans. Dolores went back to the free states, but the in-fighting and posturing of the more powerful Anarchs was starting to get on her nerves. It was too much like the elders getting on her case. The rhetoric was a little to thick for Dolores's tastes. When she heard that Susan was in trouble, she winged back to New Orleans to help her friend.
She didn't get their in time to save Susan, but was ready to avenge her. Amanda talked her down though, revealing the existence of the railroad, and its importance. Dolores reluctantly agreed not to knock heads, and satisfied herself with trashing the occasional ghoul the Ventrue sent after them. She sees shades of Susan in Amanda, but Amanda has none of the passion of Susan. Still, Amanda is level-headed and motivated, things Dolores has always been weak on, so she supports Amanda's leadership.
Dolores fell in love with New Orleans. The elders here seem to busy with each other to mess with the little ones. It was even better than the Free States, with no Anarch higher-ups to pester her. Dolores settled in happily. After a while, though, the ribbing of the KLF about their running from the Ventrue began to hurt. Dolores has always prized her reputation as a fighter. She's going to have to do something, even if it means going against Amanda's careful plans.
Age: "20", 12th Generation, born 1933, embraced 1951 by Robin, arrived 1987
Image: Dolores is a hell-raising, beer-guzzling wench from hell who doesn't much care what other people think of her. Her medium length dark brown hair is not well kept. She has a propensity for wearing black leather. She is loud and opinionated, but will defer to Amanda, whom she secretly realizes has more sense. Dolores loves to fight, but isn't really a killer. Her reputation is important to her, though, and she hates to back down.
Influence: Dolores still has a few contacts with the Hell's Angels; in fact there is one group that actually knows what she is, and thinks its cool. She might be able to get their help in real sticky situations
Secrets: D (she's too busy to be bother with that stuff).
Habitat: Dolores and Francis have a flat in the ghetto's they've outfitted for sleeping. They rely on Amanda for emergency hide-outs. They generally hunt as a pair, either seducing people in clubs, or working them over on the streets.
Goals: Dolores wants to keep the gang safe, and for the other Anarchs to admit she is the toughest one around. Other than that she is out to enjoy herself.
Francis Carver was a Crip in L.A., making his way up through the ranks, always yearning for the "big time". Francis didn't know that his gang were foot soldiers in secret Anarch war until he finally met the enemy. Most of his companions were killed by the rival Anarch gang, but Francis put up a good fight, enough to get himself noticed. Dolores, an Anarch on his side, decided to embrace the handsome young black.
Dolores took to calling him Black Francis, something he resents. Other than that, Dolores was an indulgent sire, and strong enough to protect him from the depredations of other Anarchs. Francis began to see the opportunities in the situation. After all, if the vampires were behind the gang, then Francis was a step closer to the big time. Francis began to cultivate contacts and earn favors. Dolores, who didn't want to take time for that sort of thing, seemed to approve.
Then Dolores decided to head for New Orleans to help a friend. Francis was upset at being uprooted, but wasn't strong enough to make it in L.A. alone, so he went with her. Francis was secretly pleased when Amanda decided not to go after the Ventrue, because he was loathe to get into a fight in a strange city with no back-up. He was fascinated to learn about the railroad, and saw some real potential there.
Seeing as how he was stuck in New Orleans, Francis decided to make the best of it, and called his Anarch contacts back in L.A. They were also interested to learn about the railroad, and New Orleans in general. Francis began to carefully dredge up information about the city and the railroad, and secretly passes it back to L.A. He hopes this is earning him favors he can use later.
Recently, Francis has decided he could ran the railroad better than Amanda could, and is itching to get a better grip on it. Amanda is happy to have his help on little things, but insists on keeping the major contacts in her hands. Francis tries whittle away at Amanda's leadership, with some success. He thinks Dolores will follow anyone with a solid idea of what to do, but doesn't know what motivates Didi. He is beginning to wonder what the New Orleans Camarilla might offer for knowledge about the railroad.
Age: "20", 13th Generation, born 1961, embraced 1982 by Dolores, arrived 1987
Image: Most of the time, Francis is a quiet, thoughtful young man, who speaks only when he has something useful to say. In dangerous situations, though, he slips back into the style of "tough black gang member".
Influence: Francis has the ear of some Anarch leaders in LA. Whether or not they would do anything if he asked is another story. He has also cultivate contacts amongst the younger vampires of New Orleans, to pump them for information.
Secrets: C (he's been busy finding stuff out).
Habitat: He hunts and sleeps with Dolores. See her description. Francis still relies heavily on Dolores for many of the practical aspects of vampiric life.
Goals: Francis wants to advance in the Anarch community, and feeding them info about New Orleans seems to be a good way to do it. He is constantly searching for new sources and contacts.
Simon Jones claims to be Caitiff from Savannah Georgia, attracted to the city during the Anarch wars. He made a good accounting for himself, and joined the KLF after the battle. Over the years he has earned their trust, and is now considered a loyal, though quiet, member of that Anarch Gang.
Unfortunately, Simon has a secret. Simon is actually a Ventrue antitribu, a member of the Sabbat. He regularly meets with Manuel's pack, passing on information, and renewing his Viniculum bonds to the Sabbat. To this end, he is generally friendly with the Lost Angels, another Anarch gang. He hopes someday to convince the KLF to join his Sect, but is waiting for the right time to turn them.
Simon has had his ups and downs as a Sabbat spy. His was nearly discovered in the 1970's by the Brujah Jonah. Fortunately, his pack was able to blood bond and Dominate Jonah, so rather than blowing Simon's cover, Jonah strengthened it. The pack eventually lost control of Jonah, but he was sufficiently muddle by Domination and blood that he was no longer a threat.
Simon has kept an eye on the Brujah over the years. Given Jonah's odd behavior, Simon is about the only member of the KLF willing to trust him anymore. Over time, Simon has found himself attracted to the growing passion and spirituality of the Brujah. Perhaps Simon is drawn to Jonah's loneliness and needs. Whatever the cause, Simon's loyalties to both his Anarch gang and his sect are becoming confused.
Age: "25", 12th Generation, born 1929, embraced 1953 by Terry, arrived 1962
Image: Simon maintains something of Beatnik image, and is fond of quoting Allen Ginsberg and Ken Kesey. He defers to the more powerful members of the gang, and acts in a scouting role when the KLF gets into conflicts.
Influence: Simon doesn't have much mortal influence, for fear he will enter an elder's area be closely scrutinized. The KLF will fight for him, though, and Manuel's pack can help him out in emergencies.
Secrets: C+ (his job is finding stuff out).
Habitat: Simon keeps a small apartment south of the river, and can stay with any other members of the KLF if needed. Simon has several male lovers, whom he regularly feeds on, and genuinely cares for. The KLF knows about it, and doesn't care, but Simon worries that Sabbat would not approve of his association with mortals.
Goals: Simon wants to find out as much as he can about the Camarilla while keeping his Sabbat origins secret. When the Sabbat moves to take over the city, he will sincerely try to convert the KLF, but if it comes down to it, would kill them to further his sect. Jonah, on the other hand, is a wild card. Simon is no longer certain which way he will jump if Jonah is threatened.
This quiet young Anarch keeps to the edges of kindred society. He is liked by both the KLF and the Lost Angels, but has yet to join either. In truth, he is the powerful and ancient Ventrue Alejandro, who adopted this persona to move amongst kindred society.
Jesse Twin Hawk (7th) (Gabriel) (9th)
| | (Billy) (8th)
Rev. Mitchell (D) Jordan (10th) |
| | Beagle (9th)
Charlie (9th) Millarca (11th)
The Gangrel are a wildly varied clan. Some of them are important elders, others members of various coteries, others independent. The Gangrel make up a sizable portion of the Wrecking Krewe, a group of environmentally oriented vampires.
Jesse was a Choctaw shaman, and was one of the first people the powerful Gangrel Inyanga met after she rose from torpor in the new world. She found a kindred spirit in the young Indian, and embraced him to be her guide in the new world. For a short time they travelled together, but Jesse became concerned about the white man's war on his people. He chose to follow their migration to Louisiana, while Inyanga headed north.
With Jesse's support, the Choctaw did well for a time in Louisiana. Unfortunately, in 1844 Jesse got into a fight with some mysterious Gangrel (in fact Ahrimanes) and was driven into torpor. By the time he awoke, the Choctaw were destroyed as a people. Bitter, Jesse wandered the wilderness for decades. At last his hatred of the Europeans was so great that he returned to civilization, this time as an avenging angel. Again, other vampires countered him, but this time they drew him into their society, rather than trying to slay him.
Accou and Annie had recently driven out Alejandro, and appealed to Jesse as fellow non-Europeans. They directed his attention to the newly formed racist groups like the KKK, and he vented his rage there for a time. Starved for some company, Jesse began to spend more and more time with Annie, and eventually they became lovers. Jesse's rage against the white man slowly ebbed. When Annie's ghoul Marie Laveau was embraced by the Tremere Bristol, Jesse immediately returned to New Orleans to help her fight. Even after Accou, whom Jesse still respected, brokered a peace, Jesse didn't feel safe leaving Annie to face the city alone, and stayed.
In the city, Jesse was forced to adopt more typical vampiric ways. He made a few ghouls, cultivated a herd, and even embraced a childe of his own to help counterbalance the number of Tremere, Ventrue and Toreadors in the city. Without quite realizing what was happening, he became enmeshed in the politics of the city, taking a place among the elders of the city. He is still fiercely protective of the land and its native people, however, and sometimes takes violent action against the more environmentally destructive industries.
Age: "25", 7th Generation, born 1737, embraced 1765 by Inyanga
Image: Jesse still maintains his traditional Choctaw dress. He is a tall proud warrior, speaking quietly, but expecting to be heard. Inwardly, he is disturbed at what he has become, but feels that he is a vampire now, and a Choctaw no more. In fact, he is feeling a growing remorse for his inability to save them, and may soon be paralyzed with guilt. Jesse is the current "project" of the aged Setite Lafitte, who is slowly wearing at his will to live.
Influence: Jesse has become enmeshed in New Orleans politics, but prefers breadth to depth. Thus, he has a few ghouls in many different agencies, including local and state government, the police and fire department, and local hospitals. He uses them mostly for information, but would not hesitate to sacrifice them if needed. He also has contacts with the American Indian Movement, and occasionally leaves town to work with them. He has the respect of most of the other Gangrel, but is careful not to abuse this. Jesse and Annie have been lovers on and off for a century, and they often support each other.
Secrets: B
Habitat: Jesse prefers to Earth Meld in parks when in New Orleans, and is familiar with most of the surrounding wilderness. He feeds mostly on animals, though he will occasionally take out his frustration by capturing and tormenting Europeans, feeding on them when he's done.
Goals: Jesse would like to disengage from the New Orleans, but his pride tells them that this would be giving up to the Europeans. He doesn't want to abandon Annie either, since he is her only support against the other elders. Still, he would love to find some way he could leave with honor. Recently, he has heard rumors of a group of Gangrel secretly living in the Bayous that have translated some Native American rituals into vampiric life. He is curious but cautious, fearing who these Gangrel might be connected too.
An environmentalist inspired by Teddy Roosevelt's conservation policies, Reverend Mitchell was embraced in 1912 by Jesse Twin Hawk to help him conserve Louisiana's wilderness. He was killed in 1967 by a Setite.
Charles "Charlie" Harrison was a career army man who fought in the Korea war. He found it difficult to reintegrate into civilian life, suffering in much the same way Vietnam veterans were to suffer a decade later. He took to hunting and roughing it in the wilds as a way of maintaining his skills, but was always dissatisfied and missed the thrill of battle. It was in the wilderness that he met Reverend Mitchell, a Gangrel impressed by his survival skills. Mitchell befriended Charlie, helping him to develop a love of the wilderness and giving him something new to live for. When Mitchell offered the embrace, Charles left behind his mortal life without hesitation.
Charlie would probably have become a typical Gangrel, except that shortly after his embrace, Mitchell was killed by a group of Setites. Charlie was enraged, and ruthlessly hunted them down, killing them all. The rush he got from the hunt was unlike anything he had felt since the war. Charlie had an enemy again, and that enemy was clearly evil. Since that time, he has destroyed Setites wherever he can find them. Charlie never stops to question where they might be coming from, or why there never seems to be an end to them. He is too carried away with the joys of the hunt.
Charlie is also one of the few New Orleans vampires willing to risk leaving the safety of the city. He has run into shape-shifters and Sabbat in the past, and the experience exhilarated him. He knows he's outclassed at the moment, but has begun studying them with the possibility of expanding his hunt. He would be shocked to learn that two of his fellow Snake Hunters are in fact Sabbat.
Age: "30", 9th Generation, born 1930, embraced 1962 by Reverend Mitchell
Image: Charlie has short brown hair which he keeps hidden under a hunting cap. He usually wears khaki or other hunting dress. He is generally disgusted by vampire politics, and is rather vocal about how it is a waste of time. He tends to be straight-forward and gruff in conversation, but can be quite enthusiastic when discussing the hunt.
Influence: Charlie is too involved in the hunt to care. He does know a great deal about the local wilderness, however.
Secrets: D (little is more important than the hunt)
Habitat: Charlie controls and sleeps in an Elk's lodge just out of town, which he uses as a base for his expeditions. He feeds on Setites and their ghouls when he can, and animals when he cannot. He hunts his animal prey using only Protean and stealth.
Goals: Charlie lives for the thrill of the hunt. When he runs out of Setites, he looks for other prey. He hates vampiric politics, but still enjoys the company of his kind.
Dr. Jordan Petrowski has always been amazed at the wonders of nature. He went on extended trips into the field and did his best to have no impact on the ecosystems he was studying. His love of nature was the primary reason for his heavy involvement in the burgeoning environmental movement. A young Gangrel, impressed with his environmental knowledge, embraced him, and in typical Gangrel fashion left him to fend for himself.
Jordan was both terrified and fascinated at his change. Exploring his abilities, he felt that he was some sort of primal, animalistic creature, with a deep attachment to the wilderness. He reveled in it for a year, but quickly began to yearn for human company. He reasoned with himself that he should return to civilization to protect the wilderness from human depredation. Once the land was safe, he would return. After all, if the myths of vampires were true, he had forever.
Jordan returned to the University in Baton Rouge where he had worked, where he encountered a young woman, Millie, who had been his student, and an environmentalist as well. He embraced her, ostensibly to help him with his cause, but actually to assuage his loneliness. She was horrified, and fled, but shortly returned and agreed to help him.
They both traveled to New Orleans area, where the worst pollution in the state took place. There Jordan encountered other vampires for the first time, and was shocked to learn that most of them were (to his mind) grasping blood thirsty beasts, not the primal creature of nature he thought them to be. The only vampires he could stand were Gangrel.
Jordan worked with Millarca on his cause, and became more and more desperate as little was accomplished. Finally, he decided that direct action was necessary, and formed the Wrecking Krewe to take the fight to the polluters themselves. By attacking polluting corporations, Jordan at last feels he is doing something to protect his beloved wilds.
Age: "40", 10th Generation, born 1935, embraced 1976 by Gabriel, arrived 1978
Image: Jordan dresses in white button down shirts and brown or grey slacks. He can be bad about changing his clothes, so they can get rather tattered before he steals new ones. He is uncomfortable with speaking to people, and tends to ramble about the evils of corporate America and the importance of preserving the environment.
Influence: Petrowski has gained extensive knowledge of the local corporations and corporate law, but his disgust for them prevents him from taking advantage of it.
Secrets: D (he's too busy with his cause).
Habitat: Jordan generally Earth Melds outside of town, near the industrial parks that he studies at night. He feeds mostly on animals, though he relishes the occasional company executive.
Goals: Stopping the pollution, at any cost.
Millie was always a romantic, raised on the works of Victorian poets, Byron, Shelley, and American Transcendentalists. It was the abundance and joy of nature expressed in these works that led Millie to join an environmental group in college. She was especially taken by one of her more eloquent professors, Dr. Jordan Petrowski.
She was somewhat upset when Petrowski disappeared, but was completely distraught when he returned as a vampire and embraced her. She felt her life had been ripped from her, and she fled. After a few weeks on her own, however, she returned, because living on her own was even more unbearable. She promised to help him in his struggle to protect the wilderness, because she needed some reason to go on living.
She and Petrowski went to New Orleans to get at the worst of the polluters, and Millie was amazed at what she found. The depth and complexity of vampiric society appealed to her literary side, and she found it deeply attractive. She was tempted several times to leave Jordan and immerse herself in the splendor of it all. She took to calling herself Millarca, which seemed more exotic. For the first time she could appreciate being a vampire.
She was not well accepted by other kindred, because of her clan and age, however. By this time most of her original fear and resentment of her sire had faded, and she began to realize how much he needed her. She doesn't exactly like Petrowski, but she still feels some loyalty towards him, and admires in his ideals.
Age: "20", 11th Generation, born 1957, embraced 1977 by Jordan, arrived 1978
Image: Millarca often wears what she considers "vampire garb", that is lots of black, red and silk. Otherwise she is given to wearing gauzy white cotton blouses and skirts. If she is going on a raid with the Wrecking Krewe, she will wear a dark T-shirt and jeans. She keeps her wavy auburn hair up or down, as is appropriate to the circumstances. She tends to be outgoing when interacting with other vampires, and is enthusiastic when talking about history and culture. She is reserved in the presence of Petrowski, however.
Influence: Millarca is liked in Anarch circles, and the Creoles think she has potential, for a Gangrel. Her main advantage is that she has no real enemies. This might change if her activities with the Wrecking Krewe were to become known.
Secrets: C+
Habitat: Millarca keeps a small apartment, mostly for her book collection, which is becoming very extensive. She generally feeds on animals, but enjoys seducing and feeding on humans occasionally; it makes her feel "deliciously wicked".
Goals: Millarca wants to enjoy all unlife can offer: night life, culture and romance. She has mixed feeling about Petrowski; she feels some loyalty, and half-way believes in his cause, but finds him stifling as well. At the moment, Millarca is trying to work her way into Madame Marguerite's entourage. So far, Marguerite doesn't know what to make of it.
Terrence Oswald was an officer on the HMS Beagle during its historic voyage. He became good friends with Charles Darwin, and had many conversations late into the night about nature and evolution. Upon returning to England, he and Darwin drifted apart, but Terrence was a strong support of theory of evolution, and would often argue about it in pubs. One evening his soliloquy attracted the attention of a British Gangrel, who found his ideas fascinating. Terrence was embraced, given the basics of vampirism, and then left on his own, as is the Gangrel tradition.
In shock, Terrence looked up his old friend, Darwin, and revealed his condition to him. Though Darwin took some convincing, he eventually accepted the fact the Terrence was a vampire. By this point Terrence had learned of the masquerade, so neither of them spoke about it to anyone else. Terrence's friendship with the naturalist helped him through his early years of unlife. Eventually Terrence offered the embrace to him, but Darwin preferred to die a natural death, and declined.
After Darwin's death, Terrence travelled the world, adopting the name Beagle to disguise his origins, and honor his friend. He became disturbed at the territorial expansion of mankind, and the disappearance of many species. He started collecting rare creatures to preserve them. In the end, he began feeding them his blood to prolong their lives.
As his collection grew larger, Beagle decided he needed to settle somewhere, and chose New Orleans as a major port city. He found that the Audubon Zoo was not under the control of any other kindred, and took it as his territory. He imported the creatures he had collected, and used Zoo officials to collect more. He has avoided vampiric politics, but has lately taken to quietly supporting the Wrecking Krewe, whose goals he agrees with.
Age: "30", 9th Generation, born 1811, embraced 1842 by Billy, arrived 1932
Image: Beagle is picture of British officer and a gentleman, with clean cropped brown hair. He is often quiet and philosophical, in those rare times he interacts with others.
Influence: Beagle considers the Audubon Zoo his domain, and brooks no meddling there. Because the zoo animals are a large source of easy vitae, he has earned favors over the years by letting desperate kindred feed there. He has yet to use any of these favors. He has several hidden menageries where he keeps his rare and extinct animals. Some of them have been ghouls for a century, and have become quite intelligent and powerful. The pride of his collection is a pair of aged Tasmanian wolves. All the animals are loyal to Beagle.
Secrets: D (he takes little time to study the city).
Habitat: Beagle rarely leaves the zoo, and feeds on the more ordinary animals kept there. It takes a lot of time and effort to maintain his ghouled creatures.
Goals: Beagle is still seeking to preserve species before they become extinct. He often wishes he had a greater knowledge of genetics when he began his efforts, because he only has a single breeding pair for most of his older species. He has no real idea whether or not he will ever try to repopulate the world with his animals.
Both of these young "Gangrel" are snake hunters. They spend most of their time out in the bayous, hunting for Setites that might have slipped out of the city. They come into the city when the other snake hunters (Isis and Charlie) have found evidence of Setite activity. June is outspoken, and is the leader of the pair, and Cleo is more reserved. Both of them are quite happy to help the Wrecking Krewe occasionally as well. Neither associate much with the clan, or any of the Camarilla of the city.
In actuality, neither of the pair are truly Gangrel any longer. They are both Ahrimanes, Sabbat gangrel that have undergone a special ritual to awaken spiritual powers. They are careful to avoid displaying these powers when in the city. They part of that bloodline's ongoing battle with the Setites.
Claire Clairmont (8th)
|
Harlequin (9th)----------Herod (D)
| | (Molly) (11th)
Ophelia (D) Tinker/Stainlype (10th) |
| Hannibal (D)
Janine (11th)
The Malkavians of New Orleans are more influential than the clan normally is. Their clan elder is respected, and a Malkavian leads the powerful Krewe of Janus. As is often the case, the Malkavians always seem to know more than they let on.
Claire Clairmont was the lover of a notorious English poet. He got her with child, and then abandoned her. Shortly afterwards, Claire's daughter died, and she became suicidal and mentally unstable. At this point, Adolphus entered her life. He was entranced by her passion and unrequited love. He felt that such wildness should not pass from the world, and embraced her. Claire felt redeemed by her new vampiric life, for she knew it was something her poet lover had always desired, and would never receive.
She and Adolphus travelled Europe for a time, but after her poet's death, the continent lost its charm, and she traveled to the New World. She was charmed by New Orleans' vibrant night life, and chose to stay. She quickly set about arranging her affairs, making her entrance on the social scene, and generally making life as complex as possible for the other Kindred of the city. Her passions and mercurial moods were more than made up for by her charm and wit, and she became indispensable to New Orleans vampiric society.
Claire has always been careful not be on the center stage. Rather than create plots of her own, she prefers to discover and alter the plots of the other city elders. Her favorite to date was Accou's "absentee prince", and she secretly aided Accou in creating this illusion. She also enjoys watching the activities of her childe, Harlequin. Claire knows more about the city than most of the other kindred, but rarely reveals anything to anyone.
Age: "25", 8th Generation, born 1797, embraced 1823 by Adolphus, arrived 1870
Image: Claire has medium length wavy black hair, and very expressive eyes. They can very from soft and seductive to wild in very little time. Claire is given to wearing early 19th century French dress, but will wear what is appropriate to the situation; she doesn't like to be left behind by the Toreador. She likes to keep others off balance in conversation, and her mood shifts unpredictably. Whatever her mood, she is avoids being annoying; she doesn't want to drive away her toys. She keeps her truly twisted activities secret. Claire's Derangement is a horror of children. She sees in each of them the child she lost. She finds the Toreador Jeremy particularly disturbing.
Influence: Claire has several well-placed ghouls in business and politics, mostly to gather information for her. She particularly delights in subverting other vampire's pawns, and has done so several times. She enjoys a key position amongst the elders, because few know what her true goals are, and she is often courted by all sides in any conflict.
Secrets: A-
Habitat: Claire keeps a town house in the French quarter with a well decorated French salon where she entertains. She has a few other hiding places set aside, but rarely needs them. She feeds according to her whim, using Dominate to cover up any messes she might make. She avoids children at all costs, however.
Goals: If Claire has any goals at all, it is to maximize Chaos in the city. She finds this delightfully entertaining. She will stop short of pushing things into open war, however, because this would get too many of her toys destroyed.
Samuel Prescott was the youngest son of a successful New Orleans doctor. His family was much sought-after in society, and had enough money that the boys would never really need to work. Sam grew up amid balls and parties, learning the arts of shallowness, flattery, and insincerity. He was quite a charming young rake by the time he was twenty. That year his father passed away, and Sam inherited both a nice chunk of the estate and a membership in the Harlequins, one of the Mardi Gras Krewes.
The next year and a half were a whirl of theater engagements, cocktails, and balls for the young man. Sam never stopped to think about his dead father, though he dimly felt like he should. He obeyed his mother's wishes when he was around her and forgot them when he wasn't. He had a gaggle of pretty female admirers, every one of whom he loved with all his soul while she was in his presence, and none of whom knew about the others. He frantically prepared for Mardi Gras with his krewe and delighted in the prestige of being in the secret clubs. In short, he was a typical shallow, selfish socialite, and it never occurred to him that he had an existence (or personality) beyond his carefully cultivated image.
At one party right before Christmas 1909 he danced with Claire Clairmont, who enjoys crashing such events. Her Auspex showed her the young man's spirit. Here was talent ignored, intelligence wasted, and spirituality denied, crammed down and festering behind a facade of glittering idiocy. He amused and fascinated her, and after mulling it over for a few weeks, Claire surprised him as he was getting into costume for the Harlequin's carnival ball and Embraced him.
The embrace shattered Sam's self delusions and completely rearranged his personality. He became introspective and moody, and for a long time bitterly regretted frittering away his youth on mindless activities. He obsessed on illusions and masks, both literal and metaphorical, and took to calling himself "Harlequin" to honor his change. The Krewe of Janus was his idea, and he is its oldest member and leader. More on his history can be found there.
Age: "?", 9th Generation, born 1882, embraced 1910 by Claire Clairmont
Image: Harlequin believed that since he had hidden his true self for so long, it had become fragile and needed constant protection. Therefore, he constantly wears an old diamond mask to hide himself, lest someone injure his soul or control him. If he needs to appear normal, he will use Obfuscate rather than remove his mask. He rarely reveals his true appearance in any case. Harlequin is always flamboyant and charming, acting in many ways as he did in his days as a Socialite.
Influence: Harlequin controls what may be the most powerful group of vampires in the city: the Krewe of Janus. Because of their self- proclaimed mission of protecting the masquerade, most kindred leave them be, and the elders quietly support them.
Secrets: A-
Habitat: Harlequin keeps a house in the French Quarter, and has additional havens in several theaters in the city. He does not have a regular feeding habit, but will often "crash" parties and feed on the guests.
Goals: Harlequin is obsessed with illusions, and once he knows (or thinks) someone is hiding something, he will seek to learn what it is at any cost. Once he knows, however, nothing can compel him to reveal the information. He will protect the city's Masquerade and other hidden secrets at any cost.
Embraced in 1932 by Harlequin, she disappeared in 1982, and is believed to be dead.
Janine was a young librarian recently moved to New Orleans, prone to late hours and odd habits. Her thick New York accent and odd ways kept her from making many friends, but Janine was never lonely. After all, the spirits kept her company, and the Milton H. Lattier Memorial Library had more than its share of spirits.
One evening Janine struck up a conversation with a young seeming woman about her life and the spirits. The library was closed, but this bothered neither Janine or the woman. Janine was all too happy to babble on, hoping that a human had finally taken an interest in her life. Alas, this was not the case. The Malkavian Ophelia was sufficiently charmed that she decided to embrace the young woman.
Janine's early unlife was made easy by her association with the powerful Krewe of Janus, many of whom began to treat the young neonate as some sort of mascot. Janine slowly learned kindred ways, and began to do more and more for the group, until her sire Ophelia disappeared in 1982. At that point, Janine became a full member of the Krewe, though some of the older members still patronize her.
Age: "25", 11th Generation, born 1941, embraced 1965 by Ophelia
Image: Janine looks and dresses like a secretary or a librarian from the 50's or 60's, with her auburn hair pulled back and rhine-stone glasses. Some people find her New York accent charming, others find it grating. Janine is usually friendly, happy to chat away about any topic. She includes her spirits in the conversation as well, translating for those who are unable to see them. Her spirits often give advice, which is sometimes very useful indeed, so not all kindred dismiss her ramblings.
Influence: Janine is a member of the Krewe of Janus, and as such has a fair amount of respect amongst kindred. She has little mortal influence otherwise.
Secrets: C
Habitat: Janine keeps her haven in the Lattier Library, which she considers to be her domain. Some of the older librarians remember her, and believe the library is haunted by her ghost. She often pesters kindred who have come there to do research, but if asked nicely can easily arrange to let them in "after hours". She feeds where she will, but likes to snack on late night patrons between the shelves.
Goals: Janine has little in the way of goals herself, though she is a firm supporter of the Krewe of Janus. She is actually quite skilled at research, and knows all sorts of hidden gems in New Orleans libraries. Occasionally her spirits will direct her in peculiar tasks.
Embraced in 1929 by Claire Clairmont, Herod died in 1965, It is generally believed he was killed in the fallout of the Anarch Wars, but it could have been something else.
Julie Tinker was a demure young girl with a beast within her. Everyone thought her family was the epitome of the perfect 50's household. No one saw her father's alcoholism and abuse, no one saw her mother's addiction to Valium. One night Julie couldn't take it anymore. That was when Stainlype arrived. Stainlype was clever and fearless, and knew exactly where Daddy's gun was hidden. Stainlype would protect Julie from further abuse, and make sure her parents wouldn't hurt Julie again. Ever.
Tinker might have ended up in an asylum, if the Malkavian Herod hadn't witnessed the scene. He was fascinated by Tinker's violent mood swings, and chose to embrace her. Tinker was horrified, but Stainlype rose up to protect her. Herod was too strong for Stainlype though, and Tinker survived to learn of vampires and her new life.
Stainlype bided her time, and in the Chaos of the Anarch Wars, was able to trap and kill her Sire. Then the kindred knew only Tinker, and Stainlype was free to move quietly to protect her. Tinker walks timidly on the edge of vampire society, not fully comprehending what she has become, looking for someone to help her, someone to be her friend. If someone gets too close, however, Stainlype will intervene, to "protect" her.
Age: "20", 10th Generation, born 1935, embraced 1953 by Herod
Image: Tinker is a demure young woman, shy and retiring. Her medium length light brown hair is best described as mousy. She rarely meets anyone's eyes, and her voice is often so soft it can barely be heard. Tinker is only barely aware she is a vampire, and uses only the lowest levels of her Disciplines. Tinker knows nothing of Stainlype.
Stainlype is dramatically different. Even without Obfuscate it is difficult to realize they are the same individual. Stainlype's hair is wild and scattered, as are her eyes. She usually wears garish red lipstick, the brighter the better. She is loud, and aggressive, often moving into other peoples "space" when speaking. Stainlype has full access to all her vampiric Disciplines, and doesn't hesitate to use them.
Influence: Neither Tinker or Stainlype have any influence to speak of.
Secrets: F
Habitat: Tinker still lives in the house where she murdered her parents, now long abandoned. Stainlype does all the hunting for the pair, sometimes feeding on those she feels are abusive to others, but often attacking those who simply annoy her.
Goals: Tinker just want to be loved and protected. Tinker moves at the edges of creole circles, but is too shy to be fully accepted. Stainlype wants to protect Tinker, and to hide her own existence from her "other half". Recently the Brujah Eris has made efforts to befriend the quiet Tinker, much to Stainlype's chagrin.
Hannibal was a small time Anarch, obsessed with blood. He tried to diabolize Scheherezade, and the KLF made short work of him.
Virginia (7th)
|
William (D)----(Nathaniel) (8th)-----Wyatt (8th)
| Coleman (D)
Cartwright
| Didi (11th)
Jezebel (10th)
The Nosferatu of New Orleans are not nearly as unified as the clan normally is. Each member pursues their own plots and plans. The Nosferatu are scattered about in many of the coteries of the city. Still, if push comes to shove, they will help each other out.
Flavius is a 5th generation Nosferatu embrace in ancient Roman Africa. He survived for centuries, and controlled much of German Bavaria in the 17th to 18th centuries. It was there he found and blood bound Virginia. He feuded with the Tremere of Vienna, and was forced to flee to the New World. A Tremere spell caused his ship to sink at sea, and with no source of blood, he fell into Torpor. His still lies at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico, slumbering restlessly.
Virginia was a haughty noblewoman in Elizabethan England, aspiring only to marry well. She was aristocratic and cruel, with no concern for those below her station. She made the mistake of having a peasant beaten for splashing mud on her favorite carriage. The event was witnessed by Blake, an aged Nosferatu, who decided she needed to be taught humility. He embraced Virginia, and laughed at her horror at her transformation.
Virginia fled to the mainland, feeding on the beasts of the land, but lusting after human company. In Bavaria, she fell into the orbit of Flavius, an ancient and powerful Nosferatu who controlled much of the region. He blood bound her to him, but helped raise her back up in society. She was happy for several centuries, but eventually Flavius crossed the wrong Tremere, and was forced to flee the continent.
Flavius took a ship to the new world, while Virginia arranged to have their wealth sent after them. She arrived in New Orleans several months later, where she learned that his ship had been lost at sea. Distraught, Virginia used her powers to communicate with Flavius, and learned that he had not perished, but was trapped at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico. She set herself up in the city, and worked to free him.
With her disciplines, she was able to gather a great deal of information about the other kindred of the city, and what she saw disgusted her. They were mostly low born, though the Toreador of the city were somewhat cultured. For their part, the vampires of the city paid little respect to the hideous Nosferatu. Virginia used her wealth to set up a secluded mansion in the Garden district of the city, and avoided other kindred.
In 1921, her only Get was killed by the vampire hunter Nathaniel Bordruff. Virginia feared for her life, and helped the other vampires seek out the killer. In the process, she began to get a taste of the incredibly complex life the kindred of New Orleans led. She was particularly appalled at Marie Laveau's betrayal of her sire to the hunter, and decided to turn the tables on her. When Virginia at last caught Bordruff, she embraced him rather than slay him. Marie and the prince Accou were furious, but there was little they could do. Virginia relished the whole affair.
After this, she began to take a more active role in kindred politics, learning what she could of the other vampires faults and foibles. As time went on, she became less and less concerned with rescuing Flavius, as her blood bond to him faded. She began finally to earn the respect of the vampiric community she felt she had always deserved. Today Virginia is an influential elder, and with Obfuscate no one need look at her deformity. The only thing that mars her pleasure is the fear that one day Flavius will find a means to escape the Gulf, and punish her for her failure to save him.
Age: "?", 7th Generation, born 1608, embraced 1645 by Blake
Image: Virginia uses Obfuscate to appear as she did in life: an English Noblewoman. She wears courtly dress from several different centuries. She has a regal air, and can be condescending when dealing with "common folk", but never so much as to be offensive. Her dainty appearance often fools others into forgetting her incredible Potence.
Influence: Virginia has several pawns in the business world, and especially keeps track of oil and fishing industries, or anything else that might unearth Flavius. Virginia supports the status quo more than is typical of a Nosferatu. Her information network is not quite as good as usual, either. She tends to rely on her wealth, and the few secrets she is able to gather personally. She is one of the few vampires in the city that can stand up to Marie Laveau, and even seems to have some hold on her.
Secrets: B+
Habitat: Virginia has a well appointed house in the French Quarter. She keeps a small herd of servants to feed upon.
Goals: Virginia wishes to further her position in kindred society, and to be recognized as the aristocrat she is. She wants to keep Flavius in torpor, but is afraid to move directly against him.
A servant embraced in 1892 by Virginia to protect her, and killed 1921 by Nathaniel.
The infamous vampire hunter, embraced in 1926 by Virginia, he fled and eventually ended up in Chicago (see Chicago by Night).
Wyatt Jenkins was a powerful man in the textile industry, and made a great deal of money. One of the ways he added to his wealth was making sure his workers got low wages and worked long hours. Wyatt's treatment of his employees reminded Virginia of her own embrace, which she was only then beginning to understand after 300 years. Virginia told herself that she was embracing Wyatt to use his wealth and influence, but she was reenacting the events leading up to her own transformation.
Wyatt was appalled by his new form, and was forced to hide for several days in one of his textile mills. Forced to face the horrors that he wrought, Wyatt changed dramatically in a single evening. He renounced his former life, and vowed to do something for the workers he had exploited for so long. Virginia was outwardly disappointed that her progeny was no longer of use to her, but was secretly vindicated by his change of heart.
Wyatt met the socialist Brujah Bastian, and learned some useful ideas from him. Wyatt became friends with Bastian, but didn't agree with the conclusions of communism. He felt that the only society in which humanity could find happiness would be a simple agrarian one, and worked to destroy industry in Louisiana. He eventually fell in with the Wrecking Krewe, who find his knowledge of industry very useful.
Age: "40", 8th Generation, born 1880, embraced 1927 by Virginia
Image: Wyatt is a big, beefy man, with a brown handle bar mustache and side burns, though no other facial hair. He generally wears tattered, turn of the century business dress, though he keeps a gold pocket-watch in good condition as his only decoration. He does not hide his hideous appearance with obfuscate. His demeanor is often quiet bordering on dour, concealing a tortured interior that knows the evil he has done, and longs to atone.
Influence: Wyatt still maintains various contacts in the business world, but does not use them to further his own ends. He simply uses them as sources of information. He has maintained his friendship with Bastian, but isn't willing to become an Anarch, not wishing to upset his good relationship with Virginia.
Secrets: C-
Habitat: Wyatt switches havens regularly, but usually lives in slums and other poor areas. He tries to feed mostly on animals, but takes humans when the hunger is too great.
Goals: Wyatt wishes to destroy local industry for its mistreatment of workers. The environment is only a minor concern to him. Lately he has started to worry about workers in the service industry, but because these groups don't pollute, the other members of the Wrecking Krewe are not interested.
Randolf Cartwright made his money in oil, and was doing quite well for himself when the Nosferatu Wyatt found him. Wyatt hated capitalist exploiters like Cartwright, and decided to embrace the man in the hopes the Cartwright would realize the evils that he had committed to achieve his wealth. Cartwright was horrified, but only at his new form. He had only hatred for his sire. In disgust, Wyatt nearly killed him, but the Nosferatu elder Virginia intervened. She realized that it was only matter of time before the oil industry started drilling the Gulf, and feared they might unearth her slumbering master, Flavius. Virginia helped Cartwright establish himself, and to maintain and even expand his hold on the oil industry in Louisiana.
Unknown to anyone involved (including Cartwright himself), Cartwright had in fact been an employee of the Wyrm-controlled Pentex corporation, and a bane-ridden Fomor. The shock of his embrace drove off the malignant spirit that was possessing him, but its influence lingered. Cartwright's personality was permanently warped into something that delighted only in bringing pain and having power over others. He is smart enough to put on a good face, especially in front of Virginia.
Enough of his earlier life remains that he seeks to influence and corrupt other vampires, getting them under his thumb. He main method is to lend a vampire more and more money, until they are hopelessly in his debt, and then put on the screws. His biggest success to date is the hold he's developed over the Ventrue Walter, who made some bad business decisions a few decades ago. He's had less success trying to get the Anarch Bastian in his debt, and his attempts to draw in Pinch have so far failed completely. He doesn't really have any plans to use his influence, other than enjoying to feeling of power it gives him.
Age: "40", 9th Generation, born 1902, embraced 1948 by Wyatt
Image: Cartwright is a somewhat portly middle aged man, with balding grey hair and narrow eyes. He is friendly, especially when doing "business", but others are often uncomfortable in his presence.
Influence: Cartwright owns or influences most of the oil industry in Louisiana, and this gives him a great deal of wealth and power. As a result, even kindred who dislike him are forced to deal with him on occasion. The Ventrue Walter Andretti is deep in his debt, and the Anarch Bastian has used his money a few times to finance ventures. In addition, he has a few secret powers left over from the time when he was a Fomor, which are his "ace in the hole".
Secrets: C-
Habitat: One of the first things Cartwright did as a vampire was to establish several "households". In each neighborhood, he uses Obfuscate to appear normal, and claims to be a businessman who needs to travel regularly. In each house he keeps a young, beautiful, blood bound "wife", for his pleasure, convenient feeding and to protect him by day. He rotates between "homes" about once a week, and in this way passes his unlife.
Goals: Cartwright is a little man, with small goals. His power in the oil industry and his pleasure with his "wives" are enough for him. Still, he delights in influence peddling, and enjoys getting other kindred into his debt.
Jezebel was a pretty young woman from a small Louisiana town, who ran away from a bad situation at home. Unfortunately, when she got to New Orleans she was spotted by the Nosferatu Cartwright, who decided to make her into one of his blood bound "wives". One evening Cartwright got carried away in feeding, and drained Jezebel dry. In one of his few moments of remorse, Cartwright gave her a bit of his own blood. Any pity he had quickly disappeared, however, as Jezebel's beauty was burned away in the transformation.
Jezebel barely escaped his wrath, and wandered wounded in the street, until the Malkavian Harlequin took her in. Something in the distraught young woman moved him, and he spoke with her long into the night about masks, lies, and the nature of unlife. Jezebel took some comfort from his ramblings, and chose to join the Krewe of Janus. Cartwright seethed, but with Jezebel under the protection of the powerful Krewe, he could do nothing.
Despite Harlequin's ministrations, Jezebel is obsessed with her hideousness. She is given to smashing mirrors, and random outbursts of rage at handsome mortals. She was driven to master the discipline of obfuscate, and this has proved useful to the Krewe of Janus on numerous occasional. All of her cotery-mates feel for her pain, but none have cracked her shell.
Age: "25", 10th Generation, born 1943, embraced 1967 by Cartwright
Image: Jezebel prefers to use obfuscate to appear as she did in life, a buxom, well dressed young woman. She is usually quiet, but others sense an intensity in her, for she has yet to overcome her pain. She has a strong dislike of good looking people, in remorse for what she has lost.
Influence: Jezebel is a member of the Krewe of Janus, and as such is respected by kindred society. Her obfuscate and investigative skills have made her privy to many New Orleans secrets.
Secrets: C-
Habitat: Jezebel usually lays low in the slums and poorer parts of town. Lately she has taken to feeding off frat boys and sorority girls as they hit the bars at night.
Goals: Jezebel wants revenge against Cartwright, but will not endanger herself to get it. Though she will not speak of it, she would dearly love to be an ordinary human again.
Didi was your stereotypical 50's high school girl: pretty and brainless. It was too much for her Sire, Coleman, to stand, so he embraced her. Amazingly, her transformation had little affect on her behavior. Members of Coleman's Anarch pack found Didi's spaciness strangely charming, and "adopted" her as their gang mascot. She followed the pack to New Orleans, where all of them were killed except her by the Justicar Alexis.
With her pack gone, Didi fell into the orbit of a New Orleans Anarch gang, the Lost Angels. The wars had hardened Didi, and Susan and Amanda found her very helpful in maintaining the secret underground railroad they were in charge of. Didi became quite skilled at getting into places no one else could, and helped alter shipping records and gather material for blackmailing convenient pawns.
Didi was distraught at Susan's death, and never really liked either of the West Coast Anarchs that joined the gang to help Amanda. She was also angered by Amanda's decision not to avenge Susan. She felt alienated within her cotery, but she had nowhere else to turn, and the Ventrue were on her trail.
Didi has come to accept the fact that she doesn't really fit in her own gang, but this doesn't help assuage her loneliness. She has an old romantic streak that runs through her, and longs for a lover or companion. Her standards have changed, however, and she wants someone who can accept her as she is, not a facade. She hasn't the courage to carry through on her convictions, and often hides her face from the world.
Age: "?", 11th Generation, born 1940, embraced 1958 by Coleman, arrived 1965
Image: Didi's obfuscate is not enough to change her appearance. Around strangers, she usually keeps up a ditzy facade, to keep them off guard. She has perfected a charming giggle despite her fangs. Around the Lost Angels and other friends she can relax, and behave competently.
Influence: Didi knows a great deal about the New Orleans shipping industry, and regularly breaks into various offices.
Secrets: D
Habitat: Didi usually crashes with the other member of the Lost Angels. She tends to feed on animals. She dislikes hunting humans, having nothing but brute strength and stealth to defeat them. Such a feeding makes forces her to face the horror of what she has become.
Goals: Didi is feeling increasingly listless and isolated. She longs to fit in her gang, but is unwilling to change herself. She longs for companionship, but is unwilling to take risks. Surprisingly, it has never occurred to her to seek out other Nosferatu. Even if she did think of it, she might be unwilling to face such a reflection of herself.
Accou (7th)
|
Marguerite (8th)---------------Tristan (D)
| |
Bran (9th)-----------Pablo (D) Katherine (9th)
|
Scheherazade (10th) Marisol (9th)
| |
Annachie (D)----------David (11th) Jeremy (10th)
The Toreador have ruled New Orleans since the 1860's, and have had a great deal to do with the development of the city. As is often the case, the Toreador are split between two factions, the true Artistes and the mere Poseurs. The Poseurs of New Orleans tend to be politically oriented, doing most of the day to day management of the city. The Artiste are still considered superior. Who lies in which group is a matter of hotly contested opinion.
Accou was a Mulatto slave, freed, though never acknowledged, by his white father and master. He had a talent for the piano, and his mother encouraged him, in the hopes that he could use it to make a place for himself in the world. He played at some of his father's social gatherings, and it was at one such event that Maria, an ancient Toreador, and Annabelle, her Get, first saw him. Maria was entranced by his energy and skill, and wished to preserve his talents.
The prince of the city, Alejandro, had other ideas. Fearing a break in the Masquerade, he sent servants to rough Accou up, hoping to make him less desirable to Maria. They crushed his hands, so he could no longer play the piano. Once Maria heard of this, she insisted that her own progeny, Annabelle, embrace Accou at once. This was too much for Alejandro, who insisted all of the Toreadors leave the city.
Accou traveled with Maria and Annabelle for a time, but was unable to keep the same company as the two white woman. He set out on his own, and eventually ended up in the free black community of Havana, Cuba. There he worked on his abilities, nursing his hatred of Alejandro, waiting for the day when he could return to New Orleans.
Accou returned right before the Civil War, and overthrew Alejandro shortly thereafter. Accou then ruled as prince for about 60 years, until worsening conditions in the city in the 1930's were leading to his own downfall. Casting about for ideas, he decided to take a hint from the Malkavians, and pretended to be something he was not. Accou claimed he was actually the Lieutenant of the "true Prince", and had to pass any requests on to him.
The elders of the city thought this was a ridiculous ploy, but hesitated long enough for Accou to consolidate his position. Just when he was prepared to drop his facade, he was caught unaware and attacked by none other than Alejandro, recently awakened from Torpor. Alejandro fiercely Dominated Accou, and turned the illusion into reality.
Accou has been the servant of Alejandro ever since. They have maintained this "double mask", pretending to be pretending, while actually telling the truth. Most of the younger vampires believe Accou is the Lieutenant, while most of the elders "know better", but are willing to maintain the game. Everyone found it useful to be able to claim an absentee prince was "really" running things when the Justicar Alexis came to clean up the city.
Within the last decade Accou has gathered enough strength to throw off Alejandro's Domination. He has been slowly building up his own power, to drive Alejandro out and take back control for himself. Until that time, Accou continues to act as Alejandro's pawn. Accou realizes the irony of his situation; if it were not Alejandro's support, he would have probably died in the 30's, and certainly would not have been able to handle the Justicar Alexis. Furthermore, now that Accou is Alejandro's servant, the older vampire treats him well, and even seems to care for him. Accou's hatred of Alejandro drives him, though, and he is determined to be free once more.
Age: "20", 7th Generation, born 1762, embraced 1784 by Annabelle
Image: Accou is a mulatto male, with short kinky hair, and a charming smile. He is usually dressed fashionably but comfortably. He does his best to put others at ease, acting as the "good host". He is difficult to openly anger, and he never punishes anyone directly. He can hold a grudge for a long time, though, and will seek revenge in a way that cannot be traced to him.
Influence: Accou is the Prince's Lieutenant, the Prince or Alejandro's pawn, depending on your level of knowledge. He leaves most of the day to day administration of the city to his progeny. One area of personal interest it the police force, which he consider essential to the control of the city. He publicly claims it as his private reserve, but secretly is in competition with Alejandro for control of the group, allowing other vampires to slip in their spies.
Secrets: A
Habitat: Accou has a luxurious house in the garden district that he has owned through various pawns over the years. He has a hidden haven in the New Orleans Civic Center. Accou prefers to seduce people to feed on them, and does so regularly. He is fond of variety, but prefers his choice, male or female, to be beautiful.
Goals: Accou wishes to break free of Alejandro's yoke. Although he has struggled for many years to keep the princedom, he is not suited for it. He would let it go if he could survive the transition, and knew that it would not benefit his enemies. Since most of the other elder vampires are his enemies, this is not likely to happen.
Marguerite Defallier owned several houses of ill-repute in post-civil war New Orleans, and through them had plenty of material with which to blackmail local authorities. She was safe from mortal interference, but not safe, unfortunately, from immortal plans. Accou needed a powerful and cunning lieutenant to help him consolidate his power, but one that would not seem too threatening to the city's other elders, since he was not ready to make his move. Marguerite was ideal: ruthless and knowledgeable, but a woman.
Accou made Marguerite's transition to vampiric life as smooth as possible, and she continued to run her houses, feeding off her girls. With Accou help, she expanded her influence into legitimate businesses, and became quite wealthy. Once Accou was firmly established as prince, Marguerite sponsored many artistic presentation in the city, as well as having a major hand in the first New Orleans world fair.
As she grew older, Marguerite began to realize her limits, as a Poseur in a clan of Artistes. Accou became attracted to the neonate Katherine, something Marguerite has never forgotten. Then, when Accou acted as if he were under the influence of the "true" prince, he withdrew all his support, and Marguerite had to fend for herself. Marguerite was left with the unenviable task of running the city without the full benefit of being prince.
She could very well have made her own bid for power, but Marguerite had her own secret: she was desperately in love with Accou. Even after he abandoned her, she wished to do nothing to harm him. Slowly other vampires took the work of maintaining the city, such as Krewe of Janus enforcing the Masquerade. But Marguerite retained her power.
Even now she has more day-to-day influence over the Toreador clan than Accou does. Most of the younger kindred know she is more approachable than Accou, and more likely to get things done. In many ways, she is more of a prince than Accou has ever been. Yet most of the city's elders don't appreciate her power, or offer her much respect, and after a century of unrequited love, Marguerite is thinking of doing something for herself.
Age: "35", 8th Generation, born 1839, embraced 1876 by Accou
Image: Marguerite is a classic whore-house matron, often over dressing for the part. If necessary, however, she can dress in a business-like fashion that would put a Ventrue to shame. She has the sort of build that was greatly admired in her time, and more recently in the 50's. She is very buxom, but by 90's sensibilities, a little overweight. Her long, wavy Auburn hair is usually pulled back, but she likes to let it down when she is being more casual. She mothers younger vampires, offering to help them in numerous small ways. She interacts poorly with older vampires, because of their lack of respect.
Influence: Marguerite has worked to control the Louisiana political machine since the 1890's. She has numerous pawns in the city and state government. She makes regular trips to Baton Rouge to maintain her power. She can grant individual vampires numerous small favors, and has built up considerable prestation debt over the decades. There aren't many who are personally loyal to her, however.
Secrets: B+
Habitat: Marguerite maintains various prostitution houses, and sleeps in them, though she has office buildings as well for more legitimate contacts. She feeds on her girls and boys, but is quite protective of them, and would do nothing to harm them
Goals: Marguerite wants Accou's love, the respect of the city's elders. She would dearly love to eliminate that operatic witch, Katherine, who is her main rival. She has performed numerous acts of petty revenge against her, such as secretly burning down the New Orleans Opera house in 1919, and preventing another one from being built.
When Abraham Garcia was a kid in New York city, he loved to tell stories. When he was thirteen he took up photography, since he had already decided to be a journalist. Bran found that he had quite a talent for photography and the camera soon became his favorite medium. He had a gift for using composition and light to evoke emotions in those who looked at his work, and could endow even the most prosaic subject with grandeur. The reporting on the violence of World War I hardened him, however, and he became at once more cynical, worldly and interested in politics.
He moved to New Orleans for a change of scenery and went to work at the Times-Picayune. There, Bran discovered that his work for the NY Times had gotten him a good reputation, and he found it easy to make friends and develop allies among the staffs of the city's various papers; he used this setup to expose corruption in government and to cover for speak-easies (he despised Prohibition).
While visiting a speakeasy that he'd helped to stay hidden, Bran ran into the Toreador Marguerite. Bran was in a fairly down mood that evening, and Marguerite (who was looking for a meal) found it easy to get the young man drunk. As she chatted with him she found out what he did for a living, and when he invited her to his place for the evening she was stunned by the quality of the photos displayed in his home. She fed on him, then spent the next few nights researching him. Marguerite needed someone who knew the growing news media well in order to control it effectively (there had been some trouble with yellow journalists prior to the war) and Bran was perfect; she used her Presence to dazzle and embrace him.
Since then Bran has run New Orleans' media more or less on his own, and has joined the Krewe of Janus because it dove-tails with his other work, and because he is attracted to Marisol. He has kept up with his photography and has won numerous regional and national awards; however, most of the other Toreador, especially his sire, refuse to consider photography an art form. They tend to treat him like a Poseur, which frustrates him no end. In a kind of retaliation, he has covertly taken control of one of Marguerite's pawns in the State Legislature; he has no real plans for the human, but has acquired him "just in case something comes up."
Age: "30", 9th Generation, born 1894, embraced 1920 by Marguerite
Image: A slender, graceful man whose deep brown eyes and thick black hair contrast sharply with his pale skin. (Looks like Andy Garcia). Always dresses stylishly (on the alternative side) but keeps his clothes as casual as possible for whatever situation he's in. His personality is a mixture of charm and sleaze, absolute integrity mingled with a certain amount of unscrupulousness and dishonesty. If left to his own devices Bran would probably be quite decent; however, in order to maintain the Masquerade he frequently has to compromise his own values. He usually manages to ignore the frustration he feels over this, but it leaks out in his impulsive moments, and ensures that his popularity with the other vampires is always shifting around.
Influence: Bran has extensive control of the New Orleans media, though he tends to concentrate on newspapers over TV and radio, sometimes to his detriment. He is also a member of the powerful Krewe of Janus.
Secrets: B
Habitat: Bran keeps a haven in the offices of the New Orleans Times- Picayunne. He feeds where he is able, getting a quick bite from just about anyone when he is busy. If he has more time, he prefers to wine, dine and seduce his prey.
Goals: Bran has no real goals outside of maintaining his position with the media and the Krewe of Janus, and protecting the Masquerade. He has become somewhat enamored with the young Ventrue Rebecca, and in the past, tried to talk the rest of the Krewe into supporting her for the Ventrue clanhead.
Tristan was embraced 1902 by Accou, as muscle to help him run the city. He was killed in 1924 by Nathaniel Bordruff.
Katherine was a rising star in the New Orleans art world. As an opera singer, she expected her career to improve as she aged, and she only was just beginning. The young vampire Tristan had other ideas. He couldn't compete with the older and more powerful Marguerite, Accou's other progeny. He chose the other path available to him: embracing art. With Katherine as his get, he could distract Accou's attention.
Tristan was clumsy with the embrace, and Katherine found the experience terrifying. Nervously, Tristan presented her to Accou, unsure of how the neonate or the Prince would react. As if in a dream Katherine sang as if her life depended on it, unaware that perhaps it did. Her talent came through, and Accou was charmed by her voice.
Accou took Katherine under his wing, showing her off to the other vampires of the city. Marguerite was livid, but there was little she could do. For his part, Tristan did not enjoy his victory long. He was one of the first vampires to fall to Nathaniel Bordruff. Accou taught Katherine of the joys of unlife. Her voice would never fail, only increase in beauty. Her art would be eternal.
As Katherine grew older, she began to see kinks in her shining savior's armor. As Accou became more isolated during the 30's, she lost faith in him. His ploy of playing at being the prince's Lieutenant was the final straw for her. He was ridiculous, and she would rely on him no longer. She had met other Toreador from other city's, and felt that her grasp of art was greater than Accou's.
Katherine established herself as the premier Artiste of New Orleans, and her reputation was made outside the city as well. She has a greater knowledge of classical arts than any other kindred in the city. Her judgement in those matter is considered supreme, and in a clan of Artistes, this gives her considerable influence. Her chief rival is Marguerite, whom she considers a low-born trollop. She doesn't understand the unreasoning hatred the woman seems to hold for her.
Age: "30", 9th Generation, born 1881, embraced 1912 by Tristan
Image: Katherine is a heavy set opera singer, and is stunning beautiful when she wishes to be. She always dresses elegantly, preferring flowing silk dresses that accentuate her ample endowments. After all these years, she has honed her voice to a razor's edge, and she can be incredibly expressive. She lives the life of a concertina. She has adopted several singing persona's over the years, so she can maintain her public.
Influence: Katherine can make or break anyone in the New Orleans art world, and has considerable influence elsewhere. Other Toreador outside of New Orleans consider her opinion worthy, and listen to what she has to say. She has little taste for politics, and has been outmaneuvered before by the more Machiavellian vampires of the city. She prefers classical music and art, and she has passionate hatred of jazz. It is low art, and reminds of the affections she once had for Accou.
Secrets: B-
Habitat: Katherine has a haven in the offices of the New Orleans Opera Association. She feeds on promising artists, and attractive fans. Neither are particularly difficult for her to find.
Goals: Katherine has consider leaving New Orleans for grander vistas several times, especially Europe. She fears that she would be unable to compete with the ancient kindred of the continent, however, so she has yet to do anything about it. She would dearly love to pay back Marguerite for numerous tiny humiliations, but does not have the political acumen to take away any of her power. She does not realize that her mere existence is a thorn in Marguerite's side.
Pablo was a Hispanic sculptor embraced in 1945 by Marguerite for his talents. He disappeared in 1972 for unknown reasons.
Scheherazade was a child of the sixties, an activist and a talented folk musician. She was embraced in 1963 by the Toreador Pablo, both for her talents and beauty. She quickly learned that the older Toreadors did not consider folk music to be art. More importantly, the Toreador rulers of the city had a vested interest in the status quo. Always an idealist, Scheherazade threw her lot in with the Anarchs fighting against the Justicar Alexis. She survived the war by allying with the Kindred Liberation Front, and its combative Brujahs. She has been a member of this gang ever since, though she finds the old socialist rhetoric of its leader, Bastian, a bit much.
Her first Get, Annachie, was killed in the war with Alexis, and Scheherazade waited more than a decade before making another. Her new childe, David, was a child of the 80's, putting himself first. He a found it prudent to return to the fold of the Toreador clan. That loss, combined with the lack of any real change wrought by the local Anarchs, made Scheherazade extremely frustrated and unhappy. A short while ago, David disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Scheherezade passed through depressed to neurotic, wracked with guilt over her failed fledgling, and worried that perhaps what killed him will come after her.
The Sabbat have noticed this change, and have begun to quietly court her, working through their spy in the KLF, Simon. It is unlikely that her idealist outlook would mesh well with that Sects practices. She is on the edge though, and her personality may shift enough that she would be willing to convert.
Age: "20", 10th Generation, born 1942, embraced 1963 by Pablo
Image: Scheherazade is a "flower child", dressing in flowing skirts and tie-dies. She enjoys singing, but rarely has the opportunity any longer. Normally, she is outgoing and quite emphatic about converting others to the "cause", speaking of it at length, even in inappropriate settings (such as in the presence of elders). Lately, she has been nervous and withdrawn, still shaken by her childe's death.
Influence: Scheherazade is a member of the KLF, the most powerful gang of Anarchs in the city. She is considered to be the most sincere Anarch in the city, and gets some respect for that. She has no real mortal influence.
Secrets: C-
Habitat: Scheherazade keeps a haven in a small home, which she maintains as a 60's style commune. She keeps a herd there, and prefers to feed on them shortly after they have imbibed "mind-expanding" substances.
Goals: Unlike many vampires, Scheherazade truly believes what she preaches. She believes the world has many problems, and is doing the best she can to improve it. She is very principled, and will not compromise her morals to gain a temporal advantage.
Annachie was a college friend of Scheherazade embraced 1964 for the Anarch War against the Justicar Alexis. She was killed in 1966 by Alexis's Archons.
David was a political writer and consultant, out to make or break the system. He rooted out corruption in local and state government, and hoped one day to be elected himself. He was embraced by the Anarch Scheherazade, who mistook his activities for true idealism. Confronted with vampiric control of society, David did a complete about face.
David fled into the arms of the Toreador, and did his best to get their approval. He tried to expand his writing skills to more "artistic" areas, and has worked mostly on poetry. David never made any real impressions, and he is afraid he will never be anything more than a poseur. He usually blames his lack of respect on the Anarch taint of his sire. He fears Scheherazade, and wonders if she will someday take revenge for his betrayal.
Recently, David life took a sudden turn for the worst. He ran into the Setite Clarise, who was posing as another Toreador, Louanda, to infiltrate the city. She decided to use David for "practice", hoping to impress the older Setite, Lafitte. David proved to be easy prey, and was soon mired in the depths of debaucherie. Once the other Toutoun Macoute learned of what she was doing, they were furious, telling Clarise to clean up the mess.
Saddened, "Louanda" convinced David that he would have an easier time if he struck out on his own in one of the smaller towns in Louisiana. This is what he did, not telling anyone where he was going. He has set up house in Alexandria, a small town in the middle of the State. It is only a matter of time before the Sabbat find him, and have him as a light snack.
Age: "25", 11th Generation, born 1957, embraced 1981 by Scheherazade
Image: David alternates his dress business suits and black turtle necks, depending on whether or not he is trying to be "artistic". He sucks up to anyone who seems like they might be important, and ignores or condescends to everyone else. He has also become addicted to a number of perverse vices under the tuteledge of Clarise.
Influence: David has yet to develop any real influence, though he has taken control of a small law firm to manage his affairs. The fact that he waffled between the artistic and the political factions of the city hasn't helped any. Now that he is out of the city, he won't live long enough to get any real power.
Secrets: D+
Habitat: David has a haven in a law firm he controls in Alexandria. He feeds by seducing women, relying primarily on Presence. At Clarise's suggestion, he developed some elaborate "games" he sometimes plays with his vessels.
Goals: David wanted to carve out a place for himself in clan Toreador, but has been convinced if he goes to a city with no vampires in it, he can get much further, even be a "prince" of his own.
Marisol was a consummate artiste, living in Paris in all is glory in 1920's and 30's. There was little that she did not dabble in. Painting, writing, sculpture, it was all the same to her. It was there that she attracted the attention of her sire, an old Parisian Toreador, who embraced her for her talent. Marisol's relationship with her sire was passionate and tumultuous, and she loved every moment of it. Marisol was enchanted with the splendor of the Parisian vampires, but as time went on she grew to feel their culture was stilted. There were too many ancient vampires, whose ideas had been formed in ages gone by, and she wished to have freshness in her life.
Marisol had some expatriate American friends, who recommended New Orleans as a place to go. She reveled in the absence of any prince, and threw herself into the New Orleans art world. After watching the activities of Anarchs, however, she began to fear that the Masquerade would be broken, and her beautiful world shattered. She allowed Bran and Harlequin to convince her to join the Krewe of Janus.
With a powerful position in the Krewe, Marisol life amongst New Orleans vampires was assured. She had time to develop her skills in the many areas of art that she loved. As time went on, she began to become depressed. Though her artistic talents increased, she gradually began to lose her inspiration. She missed the camaraderie of the Parisian art world, and the passion she had shared with her sire.
In '73, she attended a recital of a brilliant young violinist, Jeremy. She was astonished that one so young could have so much talent. As she followed his career, she began to become concerned. She knew that the fate of most child prodigies was to burn out and fade, and she could not bear the thought. In 1975, she embraced him.
Marisol acted as Jeremy's mentor, guiding his musical development. She encouraged him to compose, and developed other musical skills. She introduced him to the Toreador of the city, and his skill amazed them all. Under Marisol's guidance, Jeremy matured, and his passion for music grew. Marisol felt the sparks in her reawaken as well. Tossing stilted mortal mores aside, Marisol became Jeremy's lover. After all, in age he was in his twenties. Her art was reinspired, and she didn't care what others would think. It was a time of happiness for both her and Jeremy. It was not too last, however.
Marisol began to have disturbing dreams. She bickered with Jeremy more and more. Marisol began to feel strange urges whose origin she could not identify. She feared she was going mad. She could conceal this from other kindred, but not Jeremy. To protect him, and herself, Marisol pushed Jeremy away, saying it was time for him to branch out on his own, and make his own place in the world. In truth, Marisol has fallen under the influence of Alejandro. He hopes to use Marisol as the first step in controlling the Janus Krewe, since Harlequin seems to be too difficult to control. Alejandro is unaware of Marisol's fears, and the effects it has on her relationship with Jeremy.
Age: "25", 9th Generation, born 1909, embraced 1936 by Henri, arrived 1948
Image: Marisol is a petite French woman with a quiet intensity about her. She keeps her medium length reddish-brown hair pulled back when working, and is often covered in bits of paint or clay. She can dress well when needed, and can be the life of the party if she puts her mind to it, but prefers to spend her time in the studio.
Influence: Marisol is a member of the Krewe of Janus, and as such has some respect amongst kindred. She has develop some influence in the media world, mostly in the areas of TV, to take up the slack for things that slip by Bran. She considers all this secondary to her work as an artist. She is good enough to have made a name for herself in the clan and the Toreador of Paris still remember her.
Secrets: C+
Habitat: Marisol maintains a studio apartment where she sleeps, and does most of her work. She also has a warehouse as an emergency haven, and where she stores her now sizable collection of past work.
Goals: Marisol has of late been torn with inner conflicts, and is struggling to keep from revealing it to anyone. She has mixed feelings about her torments; some part of her actually enjoys them, and wants it to continue.
All that Jeremy loved was the violin. His parents were proud of him, performing in orchestras at the age of 9, but they treated him more as a toy, something to show the world, rather than their son. It was just a matter of time before music no longer sustained him, and he would be added to the listed of washed-out child prodigies.
Then Marisol found him. Jeremy was too young to fully understand his embrace, but Marisol treated him as an adult. For the first time someone loved and encouraged Jeremy for what he was, and he answered with love as well. Marisol was all of Jeremy's world, and he would do anything to please her. That they should become lovers seemed natural to Jeremy, and he could not have been happier.
As he grew older though, his relationship with Marisol became strained. The other vampires of the city would not respect him, because of his apparent youth. Then Marisol became moody, and they started to fight. Unexpectedly, Marisol insisted he leave, and make his own way in the world. She would be his crutch no longer.
Jeremy underwent his first frenzy, and destroyed Marisol's studio. When he recovered from this, he was terrified at the destruction he had wrought, and afraid he would be unable to handle life on his own. He began to resent being a 30-year-old in the body of a child. To handle his affairs, he ghouled a young married couple, and poses as their child. Yet he has no real ideas on how he will live without Marisol.
Age: "12", 10th Generation, born 1962, embraced 1974 by Marisol
Image: Jeremy has the appearance of an innocent boy of 12, but is actually more than 30 years old. He has intensity and passion, but because of his child-like frame, this can come across as brattishness or temper tantrums. He has learned that the easiest way to get things done is to act cute and childlike. He forgets sometimes, and talks as if he were an adult.
Influence: Jeremy has a pair of ghouls, but no influence. Though he is talented, the other members of clan Toreador give him no respect.
Secrets: D+
Habitat: Jeremy has a small suburban home with his ghoulish "parents". He has yet to work out regular feeding patterns. Marisol brought him "treats", and he is not used to hunting on his own.
Goals: Jeremy wants to return to Marisol, but part of him realizes that it is already to late. They can never regain the innocence they once had.
Bristol (D) (Isaac) (8th)
| (Reginald) (9th) |
Marie Laveau (8th) | Emyl (9th)
| Leah Hirsig (10th)
Rafael (9th)
The Tremere of New Orleans all fall under the shadow of Marie Laveau. Her towering influence spreads beyond the clan, and is much greater than what one might expect for a vampire of her age and generation.
An old British Tremere, Bristol came to New Orleans in 1874 to establish the clan's presence. He started the Tremere's current feud with the Brujah by embracing an important ghoul servant of the Brujah clanhead, Annie. His new Get Marie eventually betrayed him, revealing his hiding place to Nathaniel Bordruff, who killed him in 1925
Marie Laveau was a legendary figure in New Orleans Voudou, a quadroon woman ruling as Voudou Queen for 50 years, from the 1830's to the 1880's. She held a great deal of power, both from her magical abilities, and from her extensive network of spies and black-mailers. Unknown to those under her, Marie had a powerful vampiric ally, the Brujah elder Annie, who gave Marie immortality as a ghoul. Marie lived long enough that she had to retire, in the 1850's. She had another woman pose as the elder Marie Laveau, and returned as her own "daughter", though still using the same name.
Though powerful, Marie chafed at her dependence on Annie's blood, but events moved rapidly to change this. The newly arrived Tremere Bristol chose to embrace her, both for her power and to undercut a potential rival. Annie was furious, but Accou intervened to prevented war. Marie has long suspected that Accou helped engineer the whole situation, and dislikes him for that.
Marie found life under the Tremere even more stifling, and she lost nearly all her mortal Voudou contacts. Now she was a vampire though, and she still had most of her magical powers. She waited until Nathaniel Bordruff started killing vampires in the 1920's. She carefully planted information leading him to Bristol, and made sure his magical protections were weak at a crucial moment. Bristol was slain, and the only thing that marred her plan was that Bordruff was embraced rather than killed, and lives today.
Marie was the only surviving Tremere in New Orleans, and was thus able to deal with the clan on her own terms. She never openly opposed the clan, but in a myriad of small ways made her independence clear. She then worked to reestablish her mortal contacts, and is once more influential in the Voudou and black communities. She has expanded her efforts beyond this as well, and has many contacts with other magical groups, including modern neo-pagans and ceremonial magicians.
Marie carries on her sire's old feud with the Brujah, but makes an effort to stay on the good side of the other kindred of the city. Few of them trust her, thinking her ruthless and power-hungry. Still, she is respected and feared for the immense power she wields.
Marie sees herself in a totally different light. She was once the Voudou Queen, and this shapes her unlife. She still sees herself as the servant of the Loa, and only unfortunate circumstance forced her into becoming a vampire. She feels that she is trying to protect the Voudou community from outside influences, and tries to bring other vampires into balance with the will of the spirit world. For this reason, she is given to doing many mysterious things. Seldom does she give explanations to those she helps or hinders.
Age: "35", 8th Generation, born 1796, embraced 1881 by Bristol
Image: Marie Laveau is a stunningly beautiful mulatto woman with long brown hair and milk chocolate skin. She usually wears simple cotton dresses, and keeps her hair up in a kerchief, but she knows the power of apparel, and will dress appropriately for most situations. She carries herself with a regal air; one would almost think she were prince. She was once a queen, and still expects to be treat that way.
Influence: Marie Laveau is nearly universally feared and respected by the vampires of the city. Not only does she have access to the usual power of the Tremere, but she has many secret Voudou related rituals known only to her. She still has some influence in the Voudou community, but it is hotly contested by other groups, including the Brujah and secretly, the Setites. She has recently branched out, looking into other magical groups.
Secrets: A-
Habitat: Marie Laveau keeps a small house in the French Quarter. She also maintains hidden havens in several locations, not the least of which is her "grave". She visits her supposed gravesite, occasionally performing small "miracles", to maintain its mystique. In this way, she ensures that the name Marie Laveau is not forgotten. Marie feeds on her servants and followers.
Goals: Marie would like to strike out on her own, perhaps even founding her own bloodline. She is not so egotistical as to believe that she can challenge all of Tremere, however. She keeps a careful eye on the city's politics, always looking for any advantage.
For the longest time Marie Laveau jealously held her position as the single Tremere in the city, but she eventually realized that to maintain her status in the clan, she would need an apprentice. After a careful search, she found one of the descendents of her mortal children, a Voudou Bokor named Rafael. In him, the power had bred true, and she chose him to be her childe.
Rafael was overwhelmed by the power and knowledge of his ancestress, and desired nothing more than to serve and please her. Rafael acted as Marie's emissary to younger kindred and mortals, leaving Marie time to work on her own magic. Rafael became powerful and intimidating in his own right, but still pales in comparison to his sire. Rafael took to quietly speaking to Leah Hirsig about the rest of the Clan. He believes that if he can raise his prestige amongst the Tremere, he might slowly work himself free of the influence of Marie.
Leah was only too happy to pass his sentiments along to the rest of the Tremere, knowing that this would weaken Marie's hold on New Orleans. Recently, the elders of Tremere ordered a "cultural exchange". The New Orleans Chantry was to accept a Tremere from Hartford, and Raphael was on his way to New England. He believes this is the break he has been looking for, and intends to make quite a splash in the greater Tremere community.
Age: "40", 9th Generation, born 1905, embraced 1947 by Marie Laveau
Image: Rafael is a heavy-set black man, given to wearing business suits and smoking cigars. On his own, he is forceful and intimidating. On the rare occasions when he is in public with Marie, he defers to her.
Influence: Rafael maintained the political influence the Tremere have in this city. He was often in direct competition with the Ventrue and the Toreador for political pawns. He is talented enough to have played this game well. He was also considered more accessible than Marie, and many who wish to deal with the Tremere (especially younger vampires) come to him first. Now he is struggles to make a place for himself in the New England chantry.
Secrets: B-
Habitat: Rafael used to live in Marie Laveau's home, the city's Chantry house. Rafael fed on the Chantry houses servants, but is given to searching elsewhere for "special treats". At the moment, he is in Boston.
Goals: Rafael is still loyal to Marie, but is stifled by her in the same way she is stifled by the Tremere. He would like more independence.
Emyl Hillary loved few things more than the secrets of the past, and would have happily devoted his entire life to the study of history at his native Oxford, had not an affair of his come to light. The affair was one born of genuine trust and affection, but it was between Emyl and one of his male students, and Emyl was forced to resign in disgrace. He emigrated to Germany in 1934 and secured a position as a professor in a small university, where he did his best to immerse himself in history and forget his loneliness. A year or two passed, however, and he allowed himself to fall in love with a beautiful young man named Christian. For a little while, they were very happy.
The relationship ended well and Emyl thought little more about it until 1938, when he was arrested by the Nazis. It seemed that Christian had been marked as a homosexual and arrested, and in a vain effort to save himself he had offered up his past lovers instead. Emyl wound up in a concentration camp, and the number the Nazis tattooed on his arm seemed like a stark code of doom.
A little while before, the demon known as Chagaediul had been exiled to earth as punishment for some transgression. It wandered naked and nearly powerless, until its own true Name drew it to Germany with a promise of sustenance. The number Emyl had been tattooed with was, coincidentally, the numerical rendering of Chagaediul's Name, and it bound the professor to the demon. Chagaediul lived within Emyl's mind and fed on the misery surrounding them. It slowly grew in strength and ensured that Emyl stayed alive, luring him with promises of escape, if only he would aid it.
The director of the camp learned that Emyl was a scholar and put him to work translating some old documents that had been seized from a rabbi. They were descriptions of cabbalistic rituals, and in studying them Emyl managed to awaken his own magical potential. Then the true owner of the documents came to retrieve them, and Emyl came to the attention of the Tremere. Isaac decided he couldn't let the professor go to waste and Embraced him.
Since then Chagaediul has had to be careful not to be noticed by the Tremere, but that hardly bothers it; it is quite pleased with its powerful pawn. For his part, Emyl is now aware of the true nature of his "benefactor" and longs to be free of the demon. Chagaediul has a very strong grip on him however, and it punishes Emyl without mercy whenever Emyl does not obey its wishes. It has grown quite strong and intends to keep doing so, eventually returning to Hell in glory. Recently it was able to engineer things so that Emyl was sent to New Orleans in order to aid Leah Hirsig in bringing Marie Laveau to heel. Chagaediul intends to make the city its own, and the only thing in its way is a mighty Wyrm spirit called the Blighted Swamp, an elemental of the polluted bayou.
Emyl is Chagaediul's main assistant in this, a position which fills him with despair. He does his best to fulfill the demon's wishes and spare himself its ire, but he hates what it makes him do. He is desperate for a way out of his situation, and may seize on any opportunity to free himself, no matter how tenuous. He will not commit suicide for he knows that Chagaediul would simply enslave his soul if he died.
Age: "50", 9th Generation, born 1900, embraced 1941 by Isaac; arrived 1994
Image:The archetypical beloved absentminded professor. Emyl is nowhere near as spacey as he can seem, however. He deliberately plays the part, as it makes people underestimate him. He really is gentle-natured, though, and comes across more like a favorite uncle than a demon-bound vampiric sorcerer. He has developed a minor ritual that hides his tattoo from sight and from magical detection; it only lasts for nine hours, but that is usually enough. He has tried many ways to remove the tattoo permanently but with no success.
Influence: None, yet. Emyl spent his life in academia, however, and is no stranger to influence-peddling. He will place his pawns where few other vampires would think to.
Secrets: C+
Habitat: Emyl keeps a small house in Metairie, in an neighborhood known for its Ph.D. population. He also has gotten a position teaching a nighttime history class at Tulane. Emyl feeds on academic types as these are the humans he is most frequently around.
Goals: To free himself from his demon master and expose the corruption within the city. He is terrified of the retribution he would face from his clan and the vampires of New Orleans, but he is basically a decent sort and can no longer live with his crimes.
Leah Hirsig was just another young, well-bred Victorian girl of England in the early 1900's when she met Aleister Crowley, "The Wickedest Man Alive". As was his wont, Crowley seduced her and she became one of his many "Scarlet Women". She joined Crowley's coven, but disputes and his wanton ways eventually drove her away. Leah continued the quest for magic on her own, having forsaken the pristine ways of her youth.
In 1945, a London Tremere embraced her in the hopes that she would be able to help them against the rampaging Crowley, now a Malkavian. As much as she hated her ex-lover, Leah was little help against him. Her lust for magic was great enough that she advanced in the clan anyway.
Recently, the Council of Elders in Clan Tremere decided that Marie Laveau needed watching, and sent Leah to New Orleans. Marie could not refuse her, but did nothing to make her welcome either. Leah had an edge, however. Before she left London, the sire of Bristol, Marie's grand-sire, warned Leah that Marie was probably responsible for Bristol's death. If Leah could produce proof of this, she would gain greatly in clan prestige.
Leah was making slow progress in this direction, when the Tremere Emil arrived in the city. Naturally, she sought him as an ally. Emil, under the influence of his master, tried to draw Leah into his web by teaching her Dark Thaumaturgical power. Whether or not he succeeded is unknown. Very recently, one of Leah's own ghouls burned her haven to the ground. The ghoul was caught and killed, but Leah herself is believed to be dead.
Age: "50", 10th Generation, born 1894, embraced 1945 by Reginald, arrived 1984
Image: Leah varied between dressing as a "respectable" English woman and as a witch and a coven leader. She kept her short gray hair meticulous. She played up the her Tremere mystique, dropping strange hints of secret knowledge.
Influence: Leah had little power in mortal world, but worked to change that. She moved quietly, so as not to upset the powerful Chantry head. She had a few pawns in the magic community, mostly neo-pagan and new age types, but avoided Voudouns for fear of meeting Marie's tools. She had the tacit backing of the Tremere Inner Council, but until she could come up with hard evidence of violations of the Tremere laws, she was on her own. She was learning some interesting secrets from Emil before her haven was burned.
Secrets: B-
Habitat: Leah kept a small house in the Garden District. She occasionally held "seances" there for her pawns. This haven is now a pile of ash, all of her magical texts lost with it. Leah fed off her magic groups, rarely doing them permanent harm.
Goals: Leah was desperate to move up the Tremere pyramid. She worked to find out something she could use against Marie, so she can please the Inner Council. Leah wanted to return to England as quickly as possible, leaving this "uncouth country", but sought to learn all she was safely could about New World magic in the mean time. Now, no one knows her fate.
Alejandro (6th)
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Francesca (D)
| Christophe (9th)
Slane (8th)-----Guillaume (D)---Rebecca (8th) |
| Jennifer (10th)
Walter (9th)
The Ventrue are a deeply divided clan, still shaken by the loss of their clan head nearly 10 years ago. They are in the midst of resolving the situation. Unknown to any of them, the aged Ventrue Alejandro, once prince of the city, still lives and lurks among them.
Alejandro Ruiz-Castillano was a Spanish nobleman embraced into clan Ventrue in the middle of the 15th century. At the time, the Inquisition was at its height, and his sire was slain shortly after his embrace. Along with another of his Sire's progeny, Dominique (from Children of the Inquisition), Alejandro chose to join the only organization he felt was doing anything about the mortals' rampage and the elders' inactivity, the newly formed Sabbat. He enthusiastically participated in the destruction of what he considered to be corrupt elders, and even advanced a generation via diablerie.
The Sabbat held on longer in Spain than they did elsewhere in Europe, and for this reason Alejandro remained a member. As time went on, however, he became tired of the Sect's tendency towards chaos and random violence, and found its opposing organization, the Camarilla, more appealing. At last, he decided to break with the Sabbat, and in 1727 fled to the New World, specifically New Orleans. A group of Black Hand Assamites followed him, but Alejandro faked his own death by using his Vicissitude.
Alejandro spent the next 70 years out of sight, quietly establishing his power in the city and waiting to be forgotten by other vampires. When Louisiana was sold to the United States in 1803, he was ready to reemerge, and made overtures to the Camarilla vampires of that country. Kindred of that Sect started to enter New Orleans, and Alejandro established himself as prince.
Alejandro's only experience with this sort of rule was under his own sire, but that autocratic style did not adapt well to New Orleans. Most of the vampires entering the city were leaving other, equally domineering princes in the east, and were not willing to put up with his heavy-handed style of ruling. After the Civil War, they rose against him, led by the Toreador Accou, whom Alejandro had alienated years ago. Even Alejandro's childe, Francesca, turned against him.
Alejandro barely survived his overthrow. His haven was burnt to ground, and only by burrowing deep into the earth did he escape. He lay in Torpor for half a century, only rising again in 1927. He discovered that his rival Accou still held the throne, and secretly started to undermine his power. Alejandro was successful enough that Accou was soon in desperate straits, nearly about to be overthrown himself.
Accou, unaware Alejandro had returned, hit upon the odd ploy of claiming to be only the "Lieutenant" of the "true Prince", in the hopes that the rest of the vampires of the city would hesitate long enough for him to regain control. Alejandro was vastly amused, and took this as a sign. He caught Accou alone and unprepared, battered down his mental defenses, and took control of the hapless Toreador.
Since that time, Alejandro has maintained the charade Accou set up, and reigns as a shadow prince. There are enough elder vampires in the city (some of whom were involved in his overthrow) that Alejandro is not sure he could safely hold the city if he acted openly. Accou makes an effective buffer, and gives Alejandro the reality of power, if not the form.
Maintaining this precarious balance has kept Alejandro busy, especially during the visit of Justicar Alexis. Lately, though, the fact that little has changed since he took control of Accou has made him suspicious. Alejandro realizes that the dynamics of the city's vampire community are inherently unstable, and the system should have collapsed long ago. Because of this, he has begun to fear that the Jyhad exerts its influence over his city, and is beginning to look for other behind- the-scenes manipulators.
Age: "30", 6th Generation, born 1508, embraced 1545 by Titus, arrived 1727
Image: Originally a slim, dark young Spanish lord with a hint of Moor in his features, he now looks Jewish, thanks to his Vicissitude. He has built for himself an identity as a young Caitiff (named Joey Stern) who came to the city shortly after the war between Alexis and the Anarchs. He adopts this persona to mingle with the other vampires of the city now and then. He has a good sense of humor and a warm smile, but tries hard not to laugh, as he hasn't figured out how to disguise his laugh yet and fears it will give him away. His "Joey" persona is bookish and a little shy, but Alejandro enjoys socializing and is a bit of a ladies' man.
Influence: Alejandro has numerous ghouls amongst the police of New Orleans, and believes he controls them completely (he's wrong). Alejandro's most important tool is the "Lieutenant prince" Accou, whom he believes he controls thoroughly via Dominate. Alejandro leaves most of the operation of the city to Accou and his progeny. Although Accou is his greatest enemy, Alejandro spends more time with the Toreador than anyone else, and secretly believes Accou is the only one who understands him. For this reason, he will never actually do anything to endanger his tool.
Secrets: A+
Habitat: Alejandro keeps a small apartment as the haven of his Joey Stern persona. He has numerous secret havens in various places in the French Quarter, some of them built before any other vampire entered the city. His feeding restriction are those of Spanish descent. This is becoming more difficult for him to find, Hispanic blood being too thin for him. He secretly keeps several dominated pawns specifically for feeding.
Goals: Alejandro's goals are nebulous at the moment. He wishes to maintain control of the city, but more than that wishes to protect his unlife. He is constantly seeking hidden influences of other kindred.
Francesca Dumont was a haughty young creole woman from an influential family She was embraced in 1837 by Alejandro, partly to counterbalance the Camarilla vampires entering the city, and partly out of fascination with the lovely and spirited woman. Alejandro lavished Francesca with gifts, but did not allow her free rein to manage her affairs as she pleased. She was charmed by the mulatto Toreador Accou, and turned against her Sire with the rest of the city after the Civil War. In return, Accou let her run the Ventrue without interference. Francesca did just that, until she was killed in 1985 by one of her own ghouls, Raymond.
Her murderer escaped with the help of the Anarchs, and her progeny took only minor punitive actions before they fell to squabbling over who would be clanhead. Both her childer suspect the other of arranging Francesca's death. In reality, Alejandro had begun to suspect that she had learned of his continued existence, and between this and lingering bitterness at her betrayal of him, decided to eliminate her.
Slane Holland was a loyal son of the South, and fought valiantly as a lieutenant in the Civil War. His family's fortune was ruined in the war, but Slane was adopted by the wealthy "widow", Francesca. She had him take care of her business dealings, and sometimes acted as her social companion. After he had earned her trust, Francesca revealed her vampiric nature to him. He was entranced by this vibrant woman, and the potential power of vampiric life, and agreed to be embraced by her.
Slane was long Francesca's greatest supporter, but as his own power grew he began to resent serving under a woman. He began to develop his own plans, made his own progeny, and generally set about distancing himself from her. Slane particularly worked to take over Francesca's contacts in the criminal world. Eventually Francesca grew tired of this, and embraced another Childe, Rebecca, to manage her affairs.
Slane resented this new Childe, but before he could act against her, Francesca was slain by one of her own ghouls. Slane concluded that Rebecca had arranged this, and his estimation of her ruthlessness went up. Most of Francesca's business dealings were now under Rebecca's name, so despite Slane's advantage of age, he felt unable to challenge her immediately. Slane worked on collecting the allies he felt he needed to establish himself as the new Ventrue clanhead.
Finally, frustrated with the slowness of elder politics, Slane decided on direct action. Slane dominated one of Rebecca ghouls into sending information about her to a tabloid newspaper. The ghoul was then conditioned to kill her. The ghoul failed to kill Rebecca (as Slane expected), but Rebecca lost a lot of face, looking like she could not even control her own blood-bound servants. With Rebecca out of the way, Slane is ready to step into the position of Ventrue Clanhead.
Age: "45", 8th Generation, born 1840, embraced 1886 by Francesca
Image: Slane is the stereotypical image of a pre-Civil War gentleman. He dresses in white, speaks with an exaggerated drawl, and almost always has a cigar. His light brown hair is streaked with gray. He carries himself with an air of confidence, and always moves to control any situation he is in.
Influence: Slane has extensive control of organized crime in New Orleans through his childe Walter. He is trying to build a new network of political and business contacts to counter Rebecca's influence. He is a fairly old vampire, and has more respect from the elders than the any of the other Ventrue. On the other hand, he has made mistakes in the past, and is not particularly well liked.
Secrets: B
Habitat: Slane keeps a traditional southern manor on the edge of town, but has the place rigged with modern electronic security. His feeding restriction is Yankee's, so he has always had mixed feeling about the presence of Northerners in the city.
Goals: Slane wishes to take what he considers to be his rightful place amongst the elders of the city. He is nearly of age with most of them. Now that Rebecca is out of the way, there is little standing in his way.
Jacopo "Walter" Andretti came to New Orleans from Sicily with his family in 1906. He was ten years old. When he was thirteen, his uncle Tomas began to pay him ten cents a week to carry messages around the city to certain members of other Sicilian families. By the time he was fifteen he was an established, hard-working member of the New Orleans mafia. The mob in New Orleans never reached the level of influence that it did in cities like Chicago, but it still made itself felt, and when Walter decided to move up in the world and become a legitimate businessman, he found his mafia connections very useful.
They were especially useful in 1935, when Italy invaded Ethiopia. Walter decided that he liked Mussolini's style and that fascism appealed to him. Through his mafia friends, he funneled a good deal of money to Mussolini's regime and never got caught. At the same time, he found it prudent for his shipping business to support the US war effort, and was one of the first Louisianans to employ women (he used them as dock workers).
Walter was enormously successful in his ventures, the result of a natural talent for seamlessly merging legal, quasi-legal, and quietly illegal activities. He also instinctively avoided being too greedy and thus managed to evade attention. However, these very qualities caught the eye of one observer. Slane had been searching for someone who could help him weaken Francesca's hold on New Orleans business and the mob, and Walter was perfect. After observing the shipping magnate for a year, he met Walter late one night at the Cafe du Monde and made him an offer he couldn't refuse. Francesca was suspicious but allowed Slane to keep his Get.
Walter has been Slane's faithful lieutenant since then. He has his own ambitions, certainly, but he feels that the surest route to power at present is to back Slane's bid to become the Ventrue clanhead. However, he thinks Slane has lost ground to Rebecca and may be beginning to falter. Walter has been building up his resources and preparing to advance his own schemes should his sire fall. He still maintains his mob contacts, both in the US and Italy, and he has recently been approached by mob-connected agents of the Giovanni about the possibility of mutual aid.
Age: "40", 9th Generation, born 1896, embraced 1937 by Slane
Image: Walter is a middle-aged Italian-American businessman, always impeccably dressed, though his clothes can be a bit dated. He was balding when he was embraced. He can be quite charming, but avoids associating with blacks and other "undesirables".
Influence: Walter virtually controls the New Orleans mob, though it is not large or influential. He makes a fair amount of money on smuggling, and has some contacts with South America drug lords.
Secrets: C-
Habitat: Walter keeps his haven with the New Orleans mafia, though his presence is unknown to all but a few members of that organization. The gives him easier access to his feeding restriction: young Italian men and boys. He is ashamed of this, and always wipes his victims memory after feeding.
Goals: Walter is always on the look-out for more personal power, though he takes the long view and moves very cautiously. He has some twisted views on the nature of racial superiority, but is ultimately a pragmatist. His views don't get in the way of his quest for power.
Guillaume was a French businessman embraced in 1948 by Francesca as her first attempt to replace Slane as the manager of her affairs. Guillaume proved to be uncontrollable, and was killed (with Francesca's approval) in 1956 by the Krewe of Janus for making a brood.
Rebecca supported the anti-war movement of the 60's, only to discover the males of the movement paid little heed to its female members. Like many of her female companions, she became a feminist in the 70's, fighting for her own rights as the war was ending. Rebecca tended to take a more pragmatic outlook than many of the other activists. While others attended consciousness raising meetings and picketed city hall, Rebecca studied legal precedence and handled finances.
It was this, her independence, and drive that brought her to the attention of Francesca, the Ventrue clanhead. Francesca was casting about for a replacement of her progeny and current business manager, Slane. Her main difficulty with Slane was his sexist attitude of not wanting to work under a woman. Thus, Rebecca, who felt a woman could do anything a man could, was attractive to Francesca, who embraced Rebecca in 1974.
Rebecca initially had difficulty adjusting to vampiric life. Her sire's attitudes about female power had been shaped in the 19th century, and the other Ventrue were extremely sexist. Also, Rebecca did not wish to give up her mortal activism. Still, she studied carefully under Francesca, and gradually came to feel that vampires themselves were responsible for many of the social ills of modern society. She briefly considered joining the Anarchs, but, being practical, decided the only way she could bring about real change was to advance herself in vampiric society.
About the time Rebecca came to this conclusion, Francesca was slain by one of her ghouls. Rebecca immediately decided that Slane had arrange it, but there was no one she could appeal to, so she kept this information secret. It was clear that Slane expected to succeed Francesca, and Rebecca was not about to let this happen. She moved quickly to solidify her hold on the businesses Francesca owned. Rebecca knew that this may be her only opportunity, and has been ruthless and manipulative in seeking support from other vampires and attempting to block Slane. She told herself that once she was acknowledged clanhead over Slane, she would start to make changes, but secretly feared that by the time she achieves that position, she would be as corrupt and compromised as the other elders.
A few weeks ago, all hope of that Rebecca becoming clanhead evaporated. One of her ghouls suddenly went rogue. The ghoul sent Rebecca's picture to a scandal magazine, along with a letter explaining how he was beginning to realize she was a vampire. Though no one has pursued it yet, this was an unforgivable breach of the Masquerade. The other vampires of New Orleans have begun to shun her, and she could do nothing to stop Slane from taking the clan leadership. Her ghoul has disappeared, and though she suspects Slane's hand in the affair, she can prove nothing. She is terrified that some mortal hunter or another will track her down.
Age: "30", 8th Generation, born 1944, embraced 1974 by Francesca
Image: Rebecca dresses as a smart business woman, with a preference for reds and pinks. Her blond hair short and sensible. She tends to be forward in her interactions with other vampires, but gender issues are a sore point with her.
Influence: Rebecca has inherited Francesca's extensive business network, and has worked ruthlessly to keep control of it ever since. She has numerous well placed ghouls in the business world. She also enjoyed a "favored underdog" role in her attempts to become Ventrue clanhead, but now no one will give her the time of day.
Secrets: C (though she suspects more must be going on behind the scenes, she simply doesn't know)
Habitat: Rebecca has havens in various business offices, usually well guarded. Her feeding restriction is male businessmen, and she often "mixes business with pleasure."
Goals: Rebecca wants to find her ghoul, figure out what Slane did, and get revenge. She is also being cautious to the point of paranoia, for fear that someone may have learned enough about her to track her down and kill her.
Christophe's appearance belies his age. He was embraced nearly 150 years ago, but he tends to dress in the latest business styles. Christophe was the Lieutenant of a powerful Ventrue in Chile. When Pinochet's regime came into power, Christophe was forced to flee the corresponding change in vampiric princes. Unfortunately, his sire did not make it out of the country with him.
Upon arriving in New Orleans, Christophe found himself independent for the first time in his 125 years of unlife. He was just getting used to the situation, when the current Ventrue clanhead, Francesca, was killed. Christophe suspects that one of her progeny, Slane or Rebecca, was responsible for Francesca's death, but is not sure which, and is not even certain if it is important. Christophe is too busy enjoying his role as the pivotal member of the clan.
Christophe has yet to decide who to support as the new clanhead. He realizes that his backing is crucial, and has been playing to both Slane and Rebecca. He isn't ready to give up this game, since it brings him numerous benefits from both of the better established vampires. For example, he got both of them to support the presentation of his new Get, Jennifer. Once they have whittled each other down to the point where the winner cannot survive without him, Christophe will choose whom to support.
Age: "30", 9th Generation, born 1823, embraced 1852 by Ramone, arrived 1977
Image: Christophe is a dapper Hispanic business man, always impeccably dressed in the latest styles, often in silk. He keeps his clothing up to date, and few in the city realize he is as old as he actually is. He occasionally espouses "Anarchish" opinions, to maintain this facade of youth.
Influence: Christophe is relatively new to the city, but has developed some influence in the small Hispanic community of New Orleans. His position as an uncommitted Ventrue has given him a lot of influence over Rebecca and Slane, the two competitors for the Clanhead.
Secrets: C- (but seeking more knowledge).
Habitat: Christophe has bought a small mansion in the nicer section of the city with the money he brought with him from Chile. He often "entertains" young hispanic women at his home, since they are his feeding restriction.
Goals: Christophe is still reveling in his freedom, but is starting to advance himself in the world. He wants to place the next Ventrue in the position of Clanhead, but wants them to be weak enough so that he can eventually become clanhead himself. He is unaware of the mechanations of the elder kindred on this issue.
Jennifer was a young computer science student who specialized in accessing places she shouldn't have. Aside from her area of expertise, Jennifer had little experience with life and her social skills were hopelessly inadequate. She longed to find a man who knew of more than microprocessors. Unfortunately, her talents attracted the newly arrived Ventrue Christophe, who realized computers were important, and an area neglected by many other kindred. He hope she would give him an edge over other vampires, and embraced her.
There was no romance in Christophe's pragmatic siring. Jennifer was horrified at her change, and loathed her sire. She fears him too much to do anything, though, and realizes he is more powerful than he lets on. Christophe is careful to make sure she is dependent on him for guidance and blood. As she adjusts to unlife and explores her powers, her opinion of vampirism is beginning to change. With her Presence, she can manipulate people who would have ignored her when she was just a computer geek. She longs to break free of her sire, and finds the Anarchs particularly attractive.
Very recently, she has begun to do favors for the Anarch gang, the KLF. They have asked her to "fix" a few inconvenient records in town hall for them. As she spends more time with them she is slowly coming out of her shell. Christophe knows of her relationship with the Anarchs and approves; he hope to use it too his advantage.
Jennifer is slowly gathering the skills and courage she needs to make her own way. The recent fall of Rebecca and the changes in the Ventrue power structure have shaken her, however. If a woman as strong as Rebecca can be brought down, maybe Jennifer isn't ready to make it on her own. For now, she is backing off from the Anarchs, and waiting to see how things develop.
Age: "25", 10th Generation, born 1956, embraced 1981 by Christophe
Image: Jennifer dresses like a computer geek, but is slowly gaining some fashion sense. Her glasses aren't horn rimmed any longer, and she wears T-shirts as often as she wears white blouses. She is rather flirtatious with mortal males, but is shy and reserved when she deals with other vampires.
Influence: Jennifer has little real-world influence, but can get around computer systems with ease. Christophe has encouraged her to "freelance" and help other vampires with computer related problems, and she has accumulated a few favors this way.
Secrets: D (but she knows much about the mortal world through computers).
Habitat: Jennifer rents a small apartment where she sleeps. The place is cluttered with equipment. She hits the clubs to feed, but relies heavily on Presence to get her prey. Her feeding restriction is young, good looking males (the type that ignored her in life).
Goals: Jennifer would like to break free of Christophe, but has done little in this direction so far. She is always looking for better computer gear.
Lafitte (7th) Khalam (8th)
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Dr. John (8th) Clarise (9th)
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Julia (9th) Pierre (10th)
Unknown to the Camarilla, the Setites have lived quietly in New Orleans for many years. The large number of Setites slaughtered by the Snake Hunters has had no practical effect at all on Setite passage through the city. The Setite elder Lafitte has been playing games with the Camarilla for a century and a half. The recent arrival of another group of Setites from Haiti has unbalanced things. The Setites may fall to fighting amongst themselves, and be revealed to the city.
Jean Lafitte was a Carribean pirate in the early 1800's. He was a charming man and something of a folk hero in New Orleans. He earned a pardon for himself and his crew during the war of 1812 by helping repulse the British from the city. Rather than settle down, he continued his career in other areas of the Gulf. Lafitte's luck turned against him, though; his crew mutinied, he lost all wealth, and became embittered.
Dying in Cuba, he was approached by an Arabic gentleman, who asked him what he would give to have a second chance at life. Lafitte answered "Anything." The man smiled, and embraced him. Lafitte had little time to regret his decision, as he was indoctrinated into the Setite clan. After he was trained in the ways of corruption, Lafitte quietly returned to New Orleans and has remained there ever since. He has studied the city carefully, and knows a great deal about the city's kindred. He exerts his hidden influence to maintain the city's conflicts and state of chaos.
Lafitte considers corruption an art (perhaps because of the city's Toreador influence). He rarely bothers himself with mortals; they are too short lived. He concentrates in other vampires, and prides himself for the decades which he lavishes on them. Lafitte gets the most pleasure from the slow slide to despair, and draws this out as long as he can. He feels that the final moment of submission is somewhat anti-climactic in comparison.
One task Lafitte was worked on all his unlife is making the city safe for other Setites to travel through. New Orleans has long been the clan's gate way to North America. To this end, Lafitte periodically creates young Setite neonates, teaches them the clan philosophy, and then alters their memory so they believe they have recently arrived from Africa or the Carribean. Lafitte throws these neonate "decoys" to the Camarilla wolves, who usually find and slay the young Setite within a year or two. In this way, the Camarilla believes they are fighting a long battle to keep the Setites at bay, while the clan can quietly slip its member through the city to travel elsewhere in the United States.
Age: "50", 7th Generation, born 1784, embraced 1837 by Kotep Re, arrived 1854
Image: Lafitte rarely appears the same way twice, using his powerful Obfuscate to disguise himself. Lafitte has striking red hair, whatever his appearance. He enjoys playing "devil", disguising himself as some demonic creature and tormenting younger kindred. He considers this a light past-time, and is much more subtle when he has targeted someone for corruption.
Influence: Lafitte has spies hidden nearly everywhere in the city. He has used his Disciplines and egyptian magic to gather information on every vampire in the city. Little goes on without his knowledge. He applies his power with care, for he knows that his greatest strength is his hidden existence.
Secrets: A+ (he considers himself one of the "hidden influences").
Habitat: Lafitte has a large house south of the river, his Temple, where he has a herd of a dozen or so people to practice Setite debaucheries. As with all things, he is cautious, and maintains a loyal "front", a dominated human who owns the house and appears in every way to be a normal individual.
Goals: Lafitte wants to maintain his secret position in the city, and keep to his ways. Lafitte likes to concentrate on individual vampires and slowly draws the beast out of them. He consider a well performed corruption to be far superior to any sort of mass chaos.
Doctor John was originally a poor black man, leaving his family to enjoy the luxuries of Lafitte's temple. Dr. John showed talent, both for magic and cruelty, and attracted Lafitte's attention. After testing him, Lafitte gave him the embrace. He was the first of Lafitte's progeny in the city, and has been his right hand ever since.
The Doctor is Lafitte's main way of interacting with the city. After proving himself loyal, Dr. John embarked on a career as an "independent" assassin. The Doctor advertized his services to the city's Camarilla elders, disguising his origins. Over time, many of the city's vampires have used his services.
The Doctor rarely socializes with other vampires, though there are many ways to reach him for "jobs", mostly slaying mortals. When he does interact, he puts on Voudou airs, playing up the mystery of his character. He is careful, however, to occasionally "slip up" with a few phrases of Arabic and Islamic exclamations. In this way, much of the city believes him to be an Assamite. To enhance this opinion, he often demands payment in blood. In this way, he has established a sizable collection of blood of many different vampires in the city, which he and Lafitte can use for corruption and magic.
Dr. John is also Lafitte's emissary to the New Orleans Voudou community, which the Setites would like to control. The Doctor chose his name after a famous figure in Voudou history to help win himself prestige. For this reason, he is careful to avoid Marie Laveau. Not only would she realize he is not the true Dr. John, but her magic might reveal his Setite origin as well.
One things gnaws at the Doctor's ego. He remembers accepting a commission to kill Huey Long in the 30's, and carrying out the assassination, but does not remember who hired him, and knows he has never been paid. Though he has never spoken of it, he worries that some kindred has a hidden hold on him
Age: "30", 8th Generation, born 1879, embraced 1911
Image: Dr. John is a large, somewhat overweight black man, given to wearing white or black tuxedos and a top hat. When he speaks, he makes many reference to the spirit world and the powers of Voudou, with a smattering of Arabic phrases for flavor. The Doctor enjoys killing, and the hidden games he plays with other kindred.
Influence: John is a recognized and influential member of the Voudou community, though he does not have the control he would like. He is competing with Marie Laveau, the Brujah and other mystical forces. Though he is not well liked by other vampires, his services are useful, and he has enough information and blood to blackmail most of them.
Secrets: A-
Habitat: Dr. John, changes his havens regularly, preferring secluded houses. He has a small group of ghouls for bodyguards and daylight assassins. He feeds on his ghouls, his kills, and regularly visits Lafitte's Temple for other pleasures.
Goals: Dr. John wishes to continue essentially as he is now, though he would like to expand his control of the Voudou community.
Julia was a young, pretty, white housewife who had the misfortune of falling into Lafitte's company. He had Doctor John embraced her, but she doesn't remember this any longer. She is the latest of his "decoys" for the Camarilla. Against all expectations, she is doing rather well for herself. She has manage to survive for 5 years, and has built a small temple and a small amount of influence. Lafitte assumes she has already been killed by Camarilla Snake Hunters, and will probably make a different decoy soon.
Julia is beginning to put her feelers out amongst the younger kindred. She has learned of the snake hunters, and is careful to avoid them. She has been getting aid from another mysterious group of Setites, called the Tonton Macoute. She has lived long enough that Lafitte's mental conditioning is starting to break down, and she is questioning her origins.
Julia has established a small temple of her own, and gotten a few Paleros (black sorcerers of the Santeria religion) working for her. She would like to blood bond them, but for the moment they are only allies. She has been drawing them in with promises of blood and power, but they are knowledgable enough not to fall for any obvious ploys. Still, they are very useful in keeping one step ahead of the Snake Hunters, and her spying on the city's vampires is beginning to pay off.
Age: "25", 9th Generation, born 1966, embraced 1989
Image: Julia wears ancient egyptian dress, complete with hair piece and eye make-up. Though she is caucasian, her long black hair helps with the image. She tries to be sultry and seductive, but anyone with true vampiric age will recognize her inexperience. She believes that she is a French expatriate from Algeria, but in reality was born only 50 miles northwest of New Orleans.
Influence: Julia has a few minor mortal pawns, the most powerful off whom are her Palero allies. She also has a small temple, which earns money from selling easy to aquire street drugs (like marijuana and acid).
Secrets: D-
Habitat: Julia owns a small warehouse near the docks, where she keeps her Temple and servants. Over time, she has installed an impressive array of security devices. She usually feeds on her pawns and her servants. She is careful about feeding elsewhere, for fear that the Snake Hunters will learn of her.
Goals: Julia was originally condition to make trouble and get herself killed. As this wears off, she is more interested in surviving and learning more of her environment. She has been studying the vampires of the city for several years, and knows the secret of the blood bond. She would like to start aquiring a few vampiric pawns.
Khalam was embraced by a Setite in Algeria, but eventually made his way to Haiti, as did many Setites during the 19th century. He gradually worked his way up the totem pole of Haitian politics, and after a century was involved with the group of vampires that put Papa Doc Duvalier in power. Khalam controlled the powerful secret service, the Tonton Macoute, and he was widely feared. It is by this name that he and his progeny are now known. After Papa Doc died, the government destabilized. His son, Bady Doc, was unable to hold power, and Khalam was forced to flee the island in 1977 as the balance of power shifted amongst the Setites.
Khalam fled to New Orleans with his brood, and laid low for a time. His presence was tolerated by Lafitte, who fully expected him to move on eventually. Khalam became interested in the city, however, and felt it was ripe for corruption. Lafitte was too cautious, and was doing little more than holding open the door for other Setites to slip through. Khalam could do better.
Khalam slowly began to build a power base, taking over a small drug cartel, working on a politician here and there, etc. He was doing well enough to begin to bother Lafitte. Then, in 1989, the Snake Hunters stumbled across the Tonton Macoute. The Snake Hunters had never before encountered Setites of real skill and age, and the Tonton Macoute defeated them, killing Horus, one of their number. The encounter disturbed Khalam, for he feared his presence is now known to the city. After 5 years, there has been little response though, and he is ready for even more aggressive action.
Khalam has begun to realize that his brood is beginning to drift away from him. So far, he can hold them to him out of fear, but it is only a matter of time before they break with him. He keeps a few Setite secrets as an ace in the hole for that day. He has a few favors with the Assamites he might call in as well. If need be, he will slaughter this brood and make another.
Age: "35", 8th Generation, born 1775, embraced 1812 by Omal, arrived 1977
Image: Khalam is a Arabic man in his prime, giving to wearing either white robes or business suits. His countenance is usually stern, his eyes fierce and his mouth in a scowl or a sneer. He smiles rarely, but when he does, it doesn't bode well.
Influence: Khalam has placed a number of pawns in various areas of New Orleans. He concentrates on criminal figures himself. His brood controls other people.
Secrets: C+
Habitat: Khalam has purchased a mansion across Lake Ponchartrain, which is also his temple. He keeps numerous servants there as play things and feeding vessels. He also keeps several places in town as emergency havens.
Goals: Khalam thinks Lafitte is old and weak, and not active enough in pursuing Set's goals. Khalam wants to push out Lafitte, and take New Orleans by storm.
Clarise was a poor Haitian woman, and stood little chance of resisting the powerful Khalam. Khalam embraced her for her beauty, and the fact that she would be too weak to turn on him, and thus would make a good pawn. As she aged, she acted as Khalam's primary tool in controlling various government agencies in Haiti. She rose to power with him, and fell with him as well.
She continued her role when they arrived in New Orleans, working on members of the New Orleans government. In another way though, her life has radically changed. She was enthralled from the first moment she met Lafitte. His was a version of Setite philosophy she had never encountered before. His slow seductive corruptions seemed more appealing than the heavy-handed methods of terror the Tonton Macoute employ. Though she has yet to break with her sire, she find Lafitte terribly attractive.
More recently, since Khalam has decided to retake the offensive, she has begun to pose as a young Toreador, named Louanda, recently arrived in New Orleans. She has only been active the last couple of months, but has been revelling in the freedom of being able to act openly in the city. Khalam has asked her to learn more about the kindred of New Orleans, which ones are weak and susceptible to corruption, and so forth.
Her first few months were heady, as she made her introductions in Creole society. She portrayed herself as a painter, using a blood-bound mortal to produce the necessary works. She found herself attracted to the young Toreador David as a weak and malleable tool. In little time, she had him wrapped around her finger, in the depths of depravity. His will was so weak he was almost too easy. She hoped to present him to Lafitte as proof of her talent at corruption. Too late she realized her mistake.
David was so far gone that any fool would realize his fall was unnatural. Clarise used her hold on him to convince him to seek a haven in another city, to become its "prince". She hopes some danger will destroy him in the smaller towns of Louisiana. She fears that the Camarilla will trace his fall to her, or worse, that Khalam will learn of her indiscretions.
Age: "25", 9th Generation, born 1850, embraced 1874 by Khalam, arrived 1977
Image: In the past, Clarise is a cynical black business woman, and always cuts to the quick in any situation. She has more recently portrayed herself as an avant garde Artiste, wearing traditional African dress. She has not yet eliminate her Haitian accent, and claims to be from Senegal to cover her "French" accent.
Influence: Clarise works to corrupt the politicians of New Orleans; she has had only limited success so far, for fear of attracting the Snake Hunters or other Camarilla. Clarise also has nearly total control over the Toreador David, but has decided this is too dangerous, and has taken steps to eliminate him.
Secrets: C
Habitat: Clarise used to reside in the Temple with Khalam. She recently established her own apartment in the city. She feeds on her blood bound artist, and the few local politicians she has corrupted. She has also drunk a fair amount from David, and is getting a taste for kindred blood.
Goals: Clarise is still loyal to Khalam, but more out of a century of habit than any real desire. She likes Lafitte, but does not relish the idea of trading one master for another.
Pierre was the Houngan of a small Haitian village, and slowly grew in power. Khalam was seeking a Voudoun pawn to further his power, and settled on Pierre. Khalam had Clarise embrace the young Houngan. When Papa Doc and Khalam rose to power, Pierre had a great deal to do with "Voudounizing" the Tonton Macoute. Both his sire and her master were intimidated by his control over spirits, but it proved useful to them over the years.
Pierre fled to New Orleans with the rest of the Tonton Macoute. Here he discovered a new, rich world of Voudou, with its own history and spirits. Fascinated, he began to investigate, but realized others had an interest as well. At the behest of Khalam, he spread Setite tendrils through the Voudou community.
Pierre's work has begun to pay off. He has built up a small cult of worshippers from the fringes of the New Orleans Voudou community. Mostly he has taken the rejects, losers and freaks, and lured them in with promises of power. Pierre binds his followers to him with blood and magic, and leads them in the worship of some of the darker Loas and the Mayombe. He followers meet in a small mangrove glade in the bayou just south of the city where they commit strange and despicible acts.
Unknown to Khalam, Pierre is seeking new source of power. When Khalam was at the height of his power in Haiti, Pierre did not dare challenge him. Now, Khalam relies more and more on Pierre's magical talents. The dusty Egyptian god Set does nothing for Pierre, and he has begun to seek out the forbidden dieties of his Voudoun youth. For now, he choses to remain Khalam's ally, for Lafitte is potentially an even greater threat. Once Lafitte is gone, Pierre will break with Khalam, and perhaps Set as well.
Age: "45", 10th Generation, born 1894, embraced 1938 by Clarise, arrived 1977
Image: Pierre is given to dressing like a bokor, a Voudou sorcerer. He maintains an air of mystery, making frequent references to the spirit world, and always has a slight smile on his lips. Even the other members of the Tonton Macoute are hesitant to cross him. None of the other Setites appreciate the power of the Loa as he does.
Influence: Pierre is slowly feeling out the Voudouns of New Orleans. Other kindred have been working on them for much longer than he has, however. To compensate, Pierre has concentrated on the dregs of Voudou society. He has built up a cult of two dozen followers, and some of them are developing real power under his tutelage.
Secrets: C
Habitat: Pierre still stays at Khalam's Temple, and feeds on its servants.
Goals: Pierre keeps his goals to himself. He feels that the spirits of New Orleans are freer, and perhaps more powerful than those of Haiti. They are certainly different, and he will not be satisfied until he knows them all.
The Sabbat of Louisiana consist mostly of nomadic packs. They have lived a hand-to-mouth existence for centuries. Despite their constant struggle for survival, the Sabbat roams over most of the state, and few Camarilla are willing to leave the safety of New Orleans. At any given time, there are three to five packs in Louisiana, wandering about the state, surviving on the rural population. Only one of the packs, led by the Brujah Manuel, stays near New Orleans.
Given the danger of living in a nomadic Sabbat pack, there is little real permanence to most of the Sabbat in Louisiana. The average "lifespan" of a pack is 40 or 50 years. By that time, the pack has either met some unpleasant end, or has grown so large that it must split apart. The name of the pack may survive, but the members will change. Packs vary in size from 5 to 10 vampires. Smaller packs either create new members, or meld with another pack. Larger packs put too much of a strain on the mortals the vampires must feed on. Either they split into smaller packs, some of their members transfer elsewhere, or something catches up with them and culls their numbers.
All the Sabbat in the state answer to John Murrell, the Bishop in Shreveport. Murrell's pack, the Phoenix Claw, is the only founded pack in the state, and the only one with any real history. John Murrell is the driving force behind most of the Sabbat activity in the state. Murrell is an aged Lasombra, toughened by centuries of fighting and several diableries. He has been fighting to take New Orleans from the Camarilla since the 1820's.
New Orleans has never been in Sabbat hands, though there were a number of Sabbat strongholds elsewhere in the Southeastern United States. Throughout the first half of the 19th century, the Sabbat was caught up in bitter internal struggles, and the Camarilla was able to systematically drive the Sect out of the south city by city. The Sabbat fled west, towards their strongholds in Mexico.
Murrell's original pack, the Phoenix Claw, decided it would be better to make a stand in New Orleans, a city only recently made part of the United States. Murrell hoped to expand Mexican Territory up to the Mississippi, and checkmate the Camarilla's westward expansion. He and his packmates worked to instigate a slave uprising, planning to use the confusion to destroy the few Camarilla vampires in New Orleans. Unfortunately, Texas fell to the US, and Murrell was cut off from reinforcements. Somehow the Camarilla found out his plans, and his pack was slaughtered. Only Murrell escaped.
For a time Sabbat power was at a low ebb. Another vampire, Muricia stepped into the void. Muricia was a Gangrel antitribu whose pack had been lost in the state in the 17th century. She had managed to befriend some local werecats, and knew a great deal about the Louisiana wilderness. Her time with the shapeshifters had changed her, and she had in fact become the founder of a new Bloodline: the Ahrimanes. Muricia set up a sort of "underground railroad", smuggling Sabbat west to Mexico from their fallen cities elsewhere in the US. Muricia gained a great deal of prestige, but was not inclined to take a position of power. In the 1860's, Murrell returned to make another attempt on the city.
Murrell's careful scouting revealed that the power of the city had shifted into the hands of a couple of black vampires, Accou and Annie Christmas. Because of reconstruction, blacks in New Orleans had gained a sudden amount of political power. The Phoenix Claw worked against this, by supporting and ghouling a number of racist groups, early manifestations of the KKK. Eventually blacks were driven out of power, but Accou had anticipated their fall, and prepared other pawns. Murrell's extreme racists, mostly a rural movement, were locked out of city politics, and again the Camarilla kept their power.
Bitter, Murrell worked to get the state capital moved out of New Orleans to Baton Rouge, hoping to dilute Camarilla power elsewhere in the state. Once he succeeded, he fought hard to keep the Camarilla cornered in New Orleans. Any Camarilla vampires that left the city were hunted down and diablerized. However, the Camarilla was able to keep a fair amount of control over Baton Rouge through proxies and ghouls, and few were inclined to move to the drab little town when New Orleans was so nearby.
Murrell once again prepared for all out war. This time, Muricia stepped forward to oppose him. Muricia had discovered a recent influx of Setites into the city, and thought this was a more important threat. They argued bitterly, but Muricia had a lot of status, and her voice carried. The Sabbat spent the next few decades in a war against the Setites, who had infiltrated many smaller towns in the state in the absence of Camarilla princes.
Finally, in the 1930's, it seemed that the Setites had been driven out. At the same time, the Camarilla of the city seemed on the verge of overthrowing the prince Accou. Murrell would wait no longer. Muricia still opposed an open war, but had few good arguments left. Murrell was tired of political maneuvers, and had the Louisiana Sabbat create a vampiric army for a typical Sabbat Jyhad. By 1937, all was ready. Murrell arranged the assassination of Governor Huey Long, whom he saw as the prince's pawn.
On the eve of the assault, disaster struck. Somehow, Murrell's vampiric force was discovered. The entire group of fledgelings was slaughtered, as well as a few older packs. No amount of vampiric magic could determine the source of the assault, and there was no trail to follow for a counterattack. Murrell was once again forced to retreat and rebuild, though strangely, the Camarilla failed to follow up while the Sabbat was vulnerable. The Camarilla even left his network of spies in the city intact.
Unfortunately, the slaughter of Murrell's army was only the first attack of this kind. From then on, every a decade or so, a Sabbat pack would mysteriously disappear in much the same way. Usually, it was a pack that had gotten too large or sloppy to hide the signs of its existence, but the Sabbat was never able to catch the perpetrators of the attack. In time, the Sabbat started to call these attackers the Reavers, and they are still greatly feared. Younger Sabbat packs are warned to keep their noses clean, lest the Reavers find them.
After this, the Sabbat fell into a pattern. Any time Camarilla vampires ventured outside New Orleans, they were destroyed. Baton Rouge became sort of neutral ground, with neither Sect able to get a permanent hold on the city. Every five or ten years, a Sabbat War party will sweep into New Orleans, diablerize a vampire or two, and retreat. Packs come and go, but little really changes.
Murrell and Muricia continue to argue over the importance of taking New Orleans. Murrell managed to set up an another attack during the Anarch War of the 60's, but it was a repeat of his previous Jyhad. Despite precautions, the mysterious Reavers found and destroyed the fledglings, though this time few older Sabbat were lost. Since then, the Setite situation has worsened again, and Murrell hasn't been able to drum up the strength for another Jyhad.
All this time, Murrell hasn't been quiet on the national Sabbat scene. Every few years, he petitions Sabbat in other areas to come and help him take new Orleans. Each time, the other Sabbat, busy with local affairs, have politely refused. The leadership of the Sabbat has been directed its wars elsewhere, concentrating on retaking the Northeast.
Murrell has recently changed tactics. He has made a more easily fulfilled request. He has asked only that to have a small scouting part sent to New Orleans, so that outside Sabbat can evaluate the situation for themselves. Secretly, he has made this request of both the Cardinal of New York, and the Cardinal of Mexico. Once the two packs arrive, he hopes to play them off each other, and use the rivalry of the New York and Mexican Sabbat to goad one group or the other (or both!) into helping him with a Jyhad. He hopes the outside Sabbat will be able to break the curse of the Reavers, and give the Sect New Orleans at last.
John Murrell has been fighting since the day he was embraced. He went through the Sabbat Creation Rites just as the Sabbat were being pushed out of the United States by the Camarilla. Though created as cannon fodder and not expected to survive, his fervor earned him a place in the Sect. He has chewed his way up the ladder. Originally 10th generation, he has diabolized his way up to 7th.
Murrell has always believed the Sabbat should move aggressively to regain its lost territory. He has been engaged in several plots to retake Louisiana, the first of which was a slave revolt he engineered in the 1830's. Each time, his plans have been blocked or foiled by the Camarilla, because he has never been able to muster the forces necessary to take New Orleans. He continues to struggle in this region, even though the Sect lost Texas 150 years ago and he is isolated.
Murrell's isolation has worked both for and against him. He is unable to convince Sabbat leaders that Louisiana is a priority. They prefer to concentrate on their victories in the Northeast. On the other hand, Murrell avoided the Sect's infighting in the early part of the 20th century. Only one person in the region was strong enough to contest his position as Bishop, and she has never made a move in that direction.
That one individual has long been a thorn in Murrell's side. Muricia is the founder of the Ahrimanes blood line, and many Sabbat in this region owe their survival to her extensive knowledge of the wilderness and the shape shifters of the area. She has always been against Sabbat territorial expansion in Louisiana, however, preferring to concentrate on eliminating the Setites. She and Murrell have bickered bitterly about where the Sabbat should place its priorities.
Clan: Lasombra
Age: "30", 7th Generation, born 1765, embraced 1793 by Gordon
Image: Murrell is always dressed like a gentleman, and often carries a cane, with a retractable blade at the end. Though he seeks to be calm and controlled at all times, his outbursts of anger can be frightening. He is ruthless in overcoming any obstacle. Murrell would not appreciate the comparison, but he behaves in many ways like a Camarilla prince.
Influence: Murrell is respected or at least feared by all the Sabbat in the state. He does not turn away challenges to his rule, but has never been defeated. Most of the Sabbat here will follow him as much as they would follow anyone.
Secrets: B- (mainly learned through spies, he also knows nearly everything about the Sabbat in the area)
Habitat: Murrell's one success is Shreveport. The Sabbat controls this small city, and it is Murrell and his pack's stamping grounds. As a result, his life is much less precarious than the more nomadic packs. He still makes periodic but secret trips to New Orleans, to keep a finger on the pulse of that city.
Goals: Murrell wants to conquer Louisiana for the Sabbat. Until the Sects leaders give him more muscle, or Muricia agrees to aid him, he has little chance of success. His current scheme is to trick New York and Mexican Sabbat into competing with each other to help him.
The Sabbat pack closest to New Orleans is the Baratarians, lead by the Brujah Manuel. They live mostly in the bayous and islands on the south coast of Louisiana. Unlike many vampires, they are willing to brave the water, and own several boats of varying size. When not engaged in Sect business, the Baratarians can sometimes be found doing a little night- time piracy, mostly for laughs.
One of the Baratarians, Simon, is secretly a member of the KLF, and a spy in that Anarch gang. The rest of Manuel's pack is supposed to keep a low profile, and stay out of the city except when meeting with Simon. Being what they are, they often get bored, and go "wilding" in the city, or prank someone. They have yet to be captured, but several New Orleans vampires have guessed who they are.
Manuel was embraced by the Sabbat in Mexico, but went north to be closer to the action. He formed a pack around him, now known as Manuel's pack, or the Baratarians. Manuel is a cheerful leader and his pack-mates follow him willingly. He is generally very friendly, and likes to buddy up to people he has just met. He is a fierce whirlwind in combat, though.
Clan: Brujah antitribu
Age: "25", 10th Generation, born 1914, embraced 1940 by Ortega
Image: Manuel is a large hispanic man. He generally dresses in jeans, T-shirts and leather jackets. He is boisterous and , given to large gestures. He often has a half-smile on his face.
Influence: Manuel's pack usually keeps close to New Orleans, to keep track of the goings on of the city. They have one member, Simon, who is a spy amongst the Anarchs there. They try to keep quiet, but get bored on occasion, and go "wilding" in the city.
Secrets: C-
Habitat: Manuel's pack moves around, but they have a haven set up in an abandoned house south of the Mississippi.
Goals: Keep an eye on New Orleans, and have a good time.
Harvey is another member of Manuel's pack, and potentially the biggest challenge to Manuel's leadership. Harvey likes to skulk in the background, and not draw attention to himself. He has a vicious streak in him, though, and likes to torment his prey. He is the pack's primary liaison with other members of the Sabbat, and is favored by Murrell.
Clan: Lasombra
Age: "30", 11th Generation, born 1924, embraced 1955 by Simone
Image: Harvey is caucasian, with short brown hair. Harvey wears dress shirts and jackets, but they always have a "rumpled" look, as if he sleeps in them. There is always a cigarette hanging from his mouth.
Moses is priest of Manuel's pack. She is quiet and reserved, and dedicated to the Sabbat. She makes certain the pack keeps to the rituals and ways of the Sabbat. With her, Vaulderie is a holy act. The other members of her pack are a little intimidated by her.
Clan: Tzimisce
Age: "40", 11th Generation, born 1920, embraced 1958 by Joan
Image: Moses is a black woman of medium height and build. She is given to wearing black, either long flowing dresses, or the uniform of a Catholic priest.
Gabrielle is the quietist member of Manuel's pack, and spends a great deal of time off on her own. She has an extensive knowledge of the wilderness areas surrounding New Orleans, especially the bayous, which other vampires consider to dangerous to enter. She often acts as the pack's scout. Because of her thin, Ahrimanes blood, the other members of the pack have no Vinculum bond to her, but most of them like her as a friend.
Clan: Ahrimanes
Age: "20", 12th Generation, born 1949, embraced 1970 by Avery
Image: Gabrielle is a medium height white woman with long, dirty-blond hair. She either wears loose-fitting, comfortable clothes, or nothing at all. She rarely speaks, but her eyes can be very expressive, and rarely seem to blink.
Speck is the kid of Manuel's pack, but is well liked by all of them. Speck is loud and enthusiastic, and is fonder of "wilding" than the rest of the pack. She is always bouncing about, humming to herself, and is constantly cheerful. When things are tense, she likes to do something humorous, to break the mood. The older members of her pack tolerate her behavior, thinking it is "cute". Her Derangement is that she is can never to stop moving, unless she is asleep. This can be a problem on missions, though Obfuscate can cover it up.
Clan: Malkavian antitribu
Age: "25", 13th Generation, born 1963, embraced 1986 by Johnson.
Image: Speck is a petite caucasian woman, and her hair is always cut and dyed in various wild combinations. She occasionally paints her face as well. She wears sleeveless tank tops, and jeans or short skirts. She is constantly giggling and cutting up.
The Skull Pigs drift in and out of the state in their meanderings. The Skull Pigs are the only pack that has ever directly challenged Murrell, and their leader, Torrence, has even faced Murrell in monomancy on several occasions. Each time, Murrell has defeated them, and then given Torrence some minor boon, to help him save face. Other Sabbat see this as excellent leadership on Murrell's part, a clever way of handling a rebellious but useful vampire in the Sect. Others whisper darkly that Torrence and Murrell are in league, and their entire interaction is a sham.
The Pigs also have the only open member of the Black Hand in the state, Asima. Murrell has expressed his distrust of the hand on numerous occasions, so Asima keeps a low profile. There may be other, hidden members of the hand in Louisiana, though, and Asima may not even be their leader.
The Fulminous Bile is a truly repulsive pack. The pack consists of a pair of Nosferatu, a Malkavian, a Gangrel and a Tzimisce. Through Vicissitude, the pack members have twisted their bodies so far that even the Nosferatu are more repulsive than normal. Their leader, the Gangrel Ichabod, has frenzied so many times that he is indistinguishable from a beast. Rather than hide their ugliness, they revel in it.
Many of Biles follow the path of Cathari, and all of them live their unlives to the fullest. They regularly share blood with one another, and their Vinculum bonds are incredibly strong. Despite their wild and loathsome manner, the pack's loyalty to the Sabbat is unquestioned, and they are often the first to remind others of the Sect's traditions.
The only strong political position of the pack is Ichabod's hatred of the Ahrimanes. He sees that bloodline as a perversion of the clan Gangrel, and opposes them in council whenever he can. This wins the pack the gratitude of Murrell. The fact that Ichabod's sex makes him ineligible for the Rite of the Third Birth may have something to do with his hatred.
Almost all the Maenads are Ahrimanes. The only two members who are not are a Nosferatu and a Pander, both of whom are female. The pack's exact size is unclear. The Ahrimanes June and Cleo, and the pack's leader Malache are clearly members. Other Ahrimanes share the vinculum on rare occasions, and sometimes find it politically astute to claim they are members of the Maenads. The Maenads don't mind, and never impose on their sisters' independence. The only Ahrimanes that are definitely not in the pack, are those in other packs, and Muricia herself.
The Maenads are mostly involved in Muricia's war against the Setites. The pack scours the rural towns of Louisiana, looking for infiltration by Snakes. Two of their members, June and Cleo, sneak into New Orleans to help the Snake Hunters with their fight. Muricia knows of this, but Murrell does not, and is bound to be angry at this breach of traditions.
The Phoenix Claw is the only founded pack in Louisiana, and the oldest and most powerful pack as well. Led by the bishop Murrell, the pack has come near to destruction on several occasions, always barely surviving to rebuild itself later. The only two constant members are Murrell and his Paladin, Elsa.
As for the packs other members, Murrell has a tendency to rotate lost Sabbat through his pack. Many of the Sabbat in New Orleans, and almost all the pack leaders, were at one point members of the Phoenix Claw. After a decade or so, Murrell encourages them to go off and build a pack of their own. As a result, every pack in Louisiana but the Maenads can trace its origins back to the Claw. The Maenads sometimes call the state's other packs the "fingers" of the claw.
This pack has only recently arrived in the state, having come from New York at Murrell's request. Distrusting Murrell's motives, they have so far kept their distance from him, and have started scouting New Orleans on their own. They are in the process of placing a few of their own vampires in New Orleans to check out the situation, and see if an attack on the city is feasible. They are not yet aware of their Mexican counterparts.
A pack of Mexican Sabbat, they, like the Night Runners, only just arrived. They don't plan on being here long, only long enough to give the city a cursory glance to satisfy form. They are as unaware of the Night Runners as the Runners are of them. Murrell is planning to introduce the two packs during the next Palle Grande, after both have had a chance to see New Orleans a bit. The fireworks should be interesting.
Note: This chapter is rapidly becoming bloated beyond belief. There are simply too many characters for me to detail right now. At some future date, I may go back and further flesh out the Sabbat of Louisiana.
Louisiana is the home of one of the younger Sabbat bloodlines, the Ahrimanes. The bloodline is small, having perhaps two dozen members, half of whom live in the Louisiana/ Alabama/ Mississippi area. The line consists solely of vampires that have gone through a special ritual know as the Rite of the Third Birth.
This ritual was learned centuries ago by the line's founder, Muricia. At her insistence, the ritual has only been used on Gangrel antitribu, and only on women, whom she considers spiritually pure. The ritual grants the recipient a new Discipline, Spiritus, giving the vampire some access to the spirit world. However, it thins the vampire's blood, so that the vampire may no longer sire, create ghouls, or blood bond other kindred.
For more information on the Ahrimanes powers, see the Sabbat Storyteller's Guide. For those of you who do not have this book, a summary of Spiritus follows. Level 1 allows you to see and speak to spirits. Level 2 allows you to summon spirits of animals, that can manifest and fight as if they were normal creatures. Level 3 lets you receive gifts from various animals spirits, e.g. speed from Stag, leaping from Frog, etc. Level 4 lets you consume Spirits to replenish your Willpower. Level 5 allows you to assume a powerful half-cat form, resembling the Crinos form of the Bastet.
The nomadic Sabbat's survival in Louisiana is largely due to Muricia. She is very familiar with the wilds of the region and the shape-shifters who live there. She is often at odds with John Murrell about the priorities of the Sect in this area. Muricia and her Children have long engaged in a war with the Setites, and fears that a Sabbat invasion of New Orleans would be as much an opportunity for the Snakes as for the Sect.
Because of the Ahrimanes inability to bond other kindred, they have some difficulty with Viniculum. Because of Muricia's power in this region, some (though not all) of her children maintain an independent existence, not a member of any pack, thus avoiding being bound to vampires that cannot be bound to her. This is another major point of connection between Murrell and Muricia.
Muricia was a young Spanish peasant girl, embraced by a Sabbat Gangrel for their war against the elders and the inquisition. She was among one of the first packs to travel to the new world. Her pack landed in Mexico, and traveled north, attempting to reach the United States. In the land that would become Louisiana, they met a group of Garou, and all but Muricia were slaughtered.
Muricia almost certainly would have died, but she stumbled across a group of Qualmi Bastet. Muricia was not old enough to smell of the Wyrm, and the Qualmi had never met Kindred before. They took this strange creature in, for they hated the Garou more than anything else in those days. Muricia learned the ways of the Bastet, and eventually adopted their life-style. She lived alone, with a small village of natives as her "protectorate".
The Qualmi had regular moots, and Muricia would often attend. At one of these moots a strange Bastet arrived, one of the mysterious Bubasti. This egyptian Bastet knew Muricia for what she was, and spoke with her long into the night. It was then that Muricia first learned the Rite of the Third Birth, and began down her path of Spiritual awakening.
The Bubasti disappeared, and Muricia became obsessed with studying her new found spiritual powers. There were many secrets still unknown to her, not the least of which was the origins of the Rite. She had some sense that it had been performed before, in ancient Egypt, as part of the war against Set. She had occasional visions of the Egyptian goddess Bastet, the queen of catkind.
While Muricia was occupied, Kindred began to pour into Louisiana, both Sabbat and Camarilla. Eventually feeling forced to choose sides, and believing that the Camarilla were dupes of the Antediluvians, Muricia once again allied with her old Sect. Because of her knowledge of the wilderness, many fleeing Sabbat survived that would otherwise have died the final death. Because of her timely aid, she has much Status with the Sabbat of this region, even to this day.
With Muricia's association with the Sabbat, she began to drift away from the Qualmi. Though she remained free of the taint of the Wyrm, most of companions were not. During this times, the native tribes began to be slaughtered, often at the instigation of Kindred. Though the tribes allied to the Garou were hardest hit, the Bastet had losses as well. The Bastet never became Muricia's enemies, but many felt she had betrayed them.
For companionship, Muricia began putting other Gangrel through the Rite of the Third Birth. As time went on and the number of Ahrimanes grew, they put others through the Rite as well. Some of them adopted the Bastet life-style, choosing a group of people to oversee, as their protectorate. Others joined traditional Sabbat packs. Muricia uses her considerable influence to protect the rights of all her children.
Muricia began to pay more attention to the growing city of New Orleans, encountering Setites for the first time. From that day on, she made it her first priority to drive those foul creatures from her homeland. Though rarely in conflict with them herself, some of her children have always been involved with the fight against the Snakes, even if it meant allying secretly with the Camarilla.
Age: "20", 7th Generation, born 1632, embraced 1653 by Hidalgo
Image: Muricia is a petite Spanish woman, sometimes wearing traditional Spanish dress, sometime wearing the garb of the native tribes of the region. She is an immensely proud woman, and does not tolerate back talk. Her views on the world are a complex mix of medieval Spanish christianity, Sabbat ideology, shape-shifter mythology and the little she has learned about Egypt. Even other Ahrimanes find this somewhat confusing.
Influence: Not many blood lines deal with their founder on a day to day basis. The Ahrimanes hold Muricia in semi-religious awe. Many of the nomadic packs still rely on Muricia's knowledge for survival. As a result, she maintains her influence with the Sabbat of the area. The local bishop loathes her, however, and some of the Sect leaders in Mexico and New York think she is too independent. Nothing has been done yet to reign her in.
Secrets: A (Muricia knows Alejandro from his days in the Spanish Sabbat. She has recently learned from her spirits his is still alive, and is not certain what to do with this information. Note that Muricia is unaware of the Sabbat's ties to Pentex and the Wyrm. It is unclear what she would do if she learned of it.)
Habitat: Muricia live in the bayou in an august southern mansion. She watches over a nearby town of Cajuns, protecting and feeding from them. She rarely visits New Orleans, but keeps tabs on the city through her children and spirits.
Goals: Muricia wants to see the Setites destroyed. She also does not want to see the Sabbat become too strong in this region, for fear it will curtail her freedom. She believes in the Jyhad, however, and that the spiritual power the Ahrimanes is crucial to winning the war against the Satanic Antediluvians. She believes the Umbra is essential to her goals, and longs to go there. She would also like to learn more about the origins of her Rites. As the time of Gehenna draws near, her quest for the origin grows more desperate.
The ghouls of New Orleans have an active culture of their own. To begin with, they are very numerous. Most vampires in New Orleans have several ghouled retainers, so even ignoring the secret blood-bound spies in various agencies, ghouls outnumber the vampires by nearly 3 to 1. In addition, the vampires send these ghouls to deliver messages and packages to other vampires, take their ghouls to parties, and use their ghouls to spy on other kindred. The net result is that the ghouls of different vampires have many opportunities to interact.
The interaction between ghouls and kindred are rather complex. Of course, the most common relationship between a ghoul and its master is that of slavish devotion. However, because the ghouls of New Orleans speak to each other, most of them are aware of the basics of vampiric society, including the power of the blood. Though emotionally bound to their masters, most ghouls have mixed intellectual ideas about the relationship. There have been a number of instances of ghouls rebelling despite the bond (though this situation is still very rare, and often instigated by another vampire).
Generally speaking, when ghouls and kindred other than their master interact, there is still a large amount of deference on the part of the ghoul. The ghoul of the most powerful master still has less social status than the weakest vampire. While it is a capital crime to kill a vampire, the murder of ghoul is more like property damage, and kindred have been known to take out their anger on the ghouls of their enemies. A vampire can kill just about any ghoul arbitrarily with little in the way of real punishment.
While kindred look down on ghouls, they interact with them more frequently than they realize. Many vampires will send their servants to deliver a message rather than going themselves. Vampires encounter ghouls guarding havens, ghouls catering parties and the ghouled spies of their enemies. In fact, vampires interact with ghouls more often than they do with other vampires; it is only because they dismiss the importance of these servants that they are unaware of this fact.
The fact is not lost on the ghouls, however. For them, each encounter with a vampire is a life-threatening event. The ghouls move at the edge of a world they barely understand, and it is only a matter of time before something will kill them. Their master may grieve for a time, but they will be replaced. Despite the power of the blood, ghouls usually have shorter lifespans than ordinary humans.
To maintain their dignity, the ghouls of New Orleans have developed a society of their own. It helps if they can lord it over others, even those trapped in the same situation. The ghouls assign themselves status by various means. The status of their master, the trust their master places in them and their age are all major factors in how well ghouls are regarded. Strangely, normal human status symbols like wealth and political power are of little import. Ghouls are judged primarily by their interaction with the vampiric rather than human worlds. Ordinary humans are below all but the weakest ghouls. The ghouls often take pleasure in the dark secrets they are privy too, even while envying the freedom and innocence of mortal folk.
Various types of ghouls are listed below, generally varying from those with the most status to those with the least.
The most influential ghouls in the city by far are the dozen ghouls in the Krewe of Janus. These ghouls receive blood from all the various members of the Krewe. As a result, they are bound tenuously, if at all, to their vampiric patrons. Still, they are extremely loyal, almost fanatical, and believe strongly in the importance of maintaining the Masquerade.
The ghouls in the Krewe of Janus have a different viewpoint on the purpose of the Masquerade. They feel that the Masquerade is to protect mortals from vampiric excess. Since vampires are too powerful to destroy, and are by nature paranoid and power-grabbing beasts, they will always seek to control human society. Only the self-imposed check of the Masquerade keeps them from seeking total domination, and fighting an open war with mankind. By protecting the Masquerade, they are protecting mankind.
The ghouls are divided up into three basic groups: monitors, investigators and shock troops. The monitors in the krewe are well placed in human society, and keep tabs on vampiric activity that might threaten the Masquerade. There is a ghoul in the homicide department, a ghoul in the city hall, and a ghoul in the largest New Orleans hospital. They ensure that the site of any suspicious activity can be investigated by a vampire with Auspex. In fact, the monitors have contacts with other vampires and ghouls in the city, and solicit information about potentially problematic vampiric activities. In such situations, they keep their connections to the Krewe secret, often claiming to by the ghouls of some interested elder.
The investigators follow the leads found by the monitors and kindred members of the crew. They mostly work during the day, when the danger of discovery by other kindred is at a minimum. Many of them are experts at breaking and entering, sabotage and other extra-legal skills, since they never know where the trial may lead. The shock troops are the fighting arm of the Krewe. They have been given extensive anti-kindred combat training. All the ghouls cross-train, so they have some knowledge of each others specialties. Working for the Krewe of Janus is a full time job, so they have the time for study.
There is a limit to the number of Toreador the city can support, but New Orleans is a city that attracts artists. Rather than embrace every talented individual they can find, many New Orleans Toreador ghoul their artists first. This serves to preserve great artists without overtaxing the city.
The Toreador show off their artists talent in society circles, and encourage the thralls to produce more and more work for their regnant. So long as they do well, they can have high status in Toreador circles indeed. Needless to say, the pressure wears on the artist, and their work suffers. As their skill declines, the Toreador loses interest in them, saying "Perhaps they weren't all that good after all." Eventually, the artists burns out, and the Toreador discards them. Very few of them are actually embraced.
The longer an artist has been ghouled, the more likely they are to see this fate befall one of the older comrades. Most eventually realize the fate in store for them. After having been ghouled for so long, many quickly age once they no longer receive vampiric blood, dying gruesome and painful deaths. There is an element of desperation in the artists' work, and this makes it no easier to deal with their situation.
Given the power of the Toreador in New Orleans, they are not the only ones to cultivate artists. Other kindred ghoul artists as well, mostly as a way to impress the ruling clan. The artiste ghouls of other clans are in a situation that is both better and worse. Their regnant cares less for art, and is usually not discriminating enough to realize when it is losing its passion. However, the non-Toreador kindred are more likely to cast off their ghouls for no particular reason at all, having no real commitment to art.
Most of the older vampires in the city have a single ghoul that they denote as their official "representative". This ghoul is sent to deliver messages, speak to other kindred, and sometimes even to bargain in their master's name. Since a degree of flexibility is required to perform these tasks, the heralds have great deal of autonomy. They have more freedom than most of the other ghouls in the city.
Despite their importance, most kindred are leary of completely trusting their heralds. They spend too much time in the lairs of the enemy. It would be all to easy for other vampires to dominate or follow the ghoul, or pick up useful tidbits using Auspex. There is also the fear that these independent and knowledgeable ghouls might go rogue. Most vampires tell their heralds only what they need to know, and no more. They are especially careful about revealing any information about their havens.
Given the problems with heralds, most vampires would do without them were it not for their other important function as spies. Heralds regularly meet with other kindred and ghouls. Given the low status of ghouls, kindred often forget themselves, and let tidbits slip. The autonomy of heralds encourage other vampires and ghouls to see the heralds as free agents, and sometimes they approach the ghoul with offers of power. Who approaches them, and why, can teach a vampire a great deal. Of course, many vampires are aware that heralds make ideal spies. As a result, the heralds of some of the oldest vampires are nothing more than they seem to be.
The lives of heralds are definitely not sedate. They know more about kindred society than any ghoul outside of the Krewe, and are independent enough to do something with that information. They are also aware that the smallest mistake can result in their deaths, either from other kindred or their own masters. Heralds have enough status in kindred society that they will rarely be killed out of hand. If they step beyond the bounds of their official functions, however, retribution can be swift. Despite this, many heralds maintain schemes of their own, bargaining with other ghouls and even other kindred.
In addition to the semi-open heralds who double as spies, many kindred keep secret spies as well. They fall into two basic categories: plants and investigators. Plants are spies the kindred places within another vampire's organization, possibly a servant they have managed to subvert. Plants can provide good information, but are limited by the need to avoid discovery. Investigators are mortals the vampire has pry into other vampires affairs. These ghouls study the organizations of other vampires from the outside, learning what they are able through research and observation.
Not all spies are ghouls. Some vampires control their spies through mental powers like Dominate and Presence, but those without such talents are forced to rely on blood bonds. Usually, vampires will do their best to keep their spies in the dark about the rest of kindred society. Most will also take pains to ensure that their spies know little about them as well. Those with mental abilities will cloud the minds of their spies, so they no longer remember who hired them. Some vampires go so far as to plant false evidence on their spies, leading to a third party as a further way of instilling unrest.
The lifespan of ghouled spies is extremely short. If they are discovered, they are almost always killed, though sometimes they are turned into double agents. Even if they perform their job successfully, their masters usually find it too dangerous to leave them alive after they have finished their missions. Most spies for vampires do not outlive their usefulness.
The vampires of New Orleans have a particular fascination with magic. Outside clan Tremere, magical power is rare amongst kindred, but New Orleans has a large and active magical community, some of which have real talent. Vampires can get magical skill by ghouling mortals capable of it, and using their talents to further their schemes. Vampires rarely embrace such servant, for the change often destroys magical power. Sorcerers could be higher in status amongst ghouls, given their power, but they rarely have much in the way of freedom.
Generally speaking, magicians of true power know enough to be able to avoid, drive off or even destroy kindred. For this reason, most kindred choose sorcerers that are only beginning to learn their craft. These magicians are easier to control, and less likely to become a threat. The vampire prefers the sorcerer to develop his trade under the kindred's watchful eye, so there will be no nasty surprises later.
Ghouled magicians are in a precarious position. They must be useful enough that their master will be interested in keeping them alive. They cannot be too strong, however, or their master will see them as a potential threat. Many of these sorcerers are taken early in their careers, and often the power of the vampiric blood flowing through them gets mixed up in their magic. They may find themselves unable to work magic without it. Finally, their change rarely goes unnoticed by others in the magical community. Other magicians will avoid them, teachers will turn them away, and they may even be accused of dabbling in the dark arts.
Many of the most talented individual in the New Orleans magical community are connected in some way with Voudou and other african based religions. There are several vampires interested in this group of mortal magicians. The Brujah watch them as an important part of the Black Community. The Tremere watch them because Marie Laveau was once their queen. The Setites watch them for their connection to Haiti. Others watch them for their power. Each of these groups have successfully turned some of them into ghouls. Their is so much kindred attention on the Voudouns of New Orleans that they cannot help but realize it. The more powerful Voudouns try to fend them off, but they are also caught up in the struggles of spirits and true mages, so they are not always successful.
There are other magical groups in New Orleans as well. There are a few groups of ceremonial magicians, a few satanic cults and a few new-age/pagan groups. Vampires have plucked talented individuals from these groups as well. Because of the lack of communication between these magical groups, they are mostly unaware of kindred activity.
Note: to date, no vampire in New Orleans has successfully ghouled a True Mage. Not that they wouldn't be interested in trying.
Most of the cities ghouls fall into this category. Vampires need people to take care of their homes, and watch their havens by day. Kindred tend to be paranoid about other vampires influencing their servants, and take pains to keep them away from other vampires. Some of them never leave the houses the vampires live in. Servants are among the lowest status ghouls in the city.
This is not to say that servants never interact with kindred society. Most of them have the opportunity to meet with the ghouls of other vampires, and compare notes. Generally speaking, however, ghouled servants know little about kindred other than their master. On the other hand, servants are usually the most trusted ghouls of a vampire, given that they spend so much time in close proximity. On occasion, this companionship can even turn into what passes for love amongst kindred. This trust is occasionally misplaced, and the servant that turns rogue can be the death of any vampire.
The bodyguards of most vampires fall within this category as well. The kindred will take their bodyguards with them out into kindred society, but will always keep them near. This is both for protection, and to make certain no other vampire can influence them. No such precautions can be perfect, however, and bodyguards find opportunities to mingle with others. As a result they have more status and less trust than other servants.
The lowest of all ghouls are mortal pawns of the kindred. These ghouls rarely know anything about vampiric society, and often don't even realize they are ghouls, and their master is a vampire. They have the lowest status amongst ghouls, but rarely interact with anyone other than their vampire's associates. Paradoxically, pawns usually have the most mortal power.
Vampires are creatures of passion, and not all of them ghoul mortals for pragmatic reasons. Vampires will at times ghoul mortals for all the same reasons they embrace in fits of passion: whim, to prove some philosophical point, sexual attraction or even the raging power of the beast. Such random ghouls do not fit well into the status structure of vampiric society, and other ghouls are not quite certain how to treat them. Sometimes these ghouls will begin to fall into one of the other of the more common nitches, and become a more permanent servant of their vampiric master.
More often,however, the vampires tires of the random ghouls, as the reason for their ghouling becomes irrelevant. The vampire simply stops feeding them blood, and the ghouls drifts back to mortal society. Many only have a tenuous grasp of what exactly happened to them, so most are unaware of how narrowly they have escaped.
The rogue ghoul is one of the greatest fears of vampiric society. A ghoul can do an incredible amount of damage to the kindred. Not only do they have knowledge, but they have the power of blood to back it up. In theory the bonds of blood should be enough to keep ghouls in check, but mistreatment can build up powerful countering emotions, which can sometimes overwhelm the bonds. Even a well treated ghoul can slowly grow to resent their master, for even a benevolent master is still that: the master of a slave.
This horror encourages vampires to strike ghouls down at the slightest hint of rebellion. This is a negative reinforcing cycle, as fear of rebellion leads to mistreatment, which in turn encourages rebellion. When a ghoul actually does rebel, they are hunted down with as much if not more fervor than a diabolizing vampire. Such a ghoul is a danger not only to their master, but all kindred as well.
Despite the dangers, many kindred play such games with their enemies ghouls. Few ghouls have the power to break free of their master on their own, but with a little help (from Domination or Presence), they can be pushed. This is viewed as a truly heinous act amongst kindred, but the rebelling ghoul rarely survives long enough to be questioned.
Few rogue ghouls survive their act of rebellion. Those that do are usually driven to hunt the kindred they once served. Such ghouls can be motivated by hatred, but others of them miss the power of the blood, and fear to age once more. The strongest motivation for the rogue ghoul is that they now know too many secrets of the night. They cannot go back to the complacent lives they once lead.
Note: This is another chapter that is rapidly getting out of control. If I have enough time later, I'll go back and describe a few specific ghouls that are examples of each type.
New Orleans is a city of individualistic vampires, but many groups of vampires exist. Few of them are totally unified in purpose, and much internal bickering takes place.
Members: Accou, Annie, Claire, Jesse, (Francesca), Marie, Virginia, (Slane?)
Meeting Place: Elysium. Only meets as a group in the direst of emergencies.
Perceived Goals: Working to maintain peace and the Masquerade.
Real Goals: Pursuing individual schemes, controlling the new Ventrue clanhead.
Though not a proper coterie, the eldest vampires of the city are something of a group. They act in many ways as a Primogen, though they do not take that name. The Eldest have known each other for more than a century, feel that they are the life-blood of New Orleans, and consider most other kindred beneath them. Many of them have good reason to hate each other, but the caution of age holds them back from direct war.
The eldest slip back and forth in varying alliances, but generally arrange themselves as might be expected along clan lines. Accou, Virginia and Francesca spoke for calm, order and the Camarilla laws, while Annie, sometimes backed by Jesse, would speak for the younger vampires. Claire and Marie acted as spoilers.
Francesca's death threw the balance off, and much of the elders attention in the last 10 years has been directed toward determining the next Ventrue clan head. Each elder wanted the new Ventrue clan head to owe their ascension to them and no other, but few of them have a fixed favorite. Annie prefered to see no Ventrue at all. The scheming of the Eldest is the main reason it took so long to resolve this question.
All the elder vampires were shocked when Slane took matters into his own hands, and discredited Rebecca to the point where she could no longer compete with him. With Slane's position as clanhead secured, the elders seethed. All of them has been cut out of the loop. Things were simple not done that way. Slane has just made a large number of very powerful enemies.
Members: Harlequin, Bran, Janine, Jezebel, Marisol
Meeting Place: Elysium and sometimes a residence of Harlequin.
Perceived Goals: Protecting the Masquerade.
Real Goals: Maintaining the city in its current state.
The Krewe of Janus was founded by Harlequin through his connections with mortal Mardi Gras krewes. He originally intended it to be a vampiric continuation of his mortal social life, but the group's purpose changed in the chaos of the "New Prince's" arrival. When Accou stopped actively enforcing the Traditions, the Krewe found themselves in the peculiar position of being the only vampires willing to do anything.
Harlequin initially stepped forward to keep things from getting out of hand during his beloved Mardi Gras, and policing this holiday is still the Krewe's best known activity. As time went on however, his fascination with masks led him to branch out into other areas, first in conflict, then allegiance with Toreadors assigned to the same task.
Harlequin acts as the Krewe's spokesman and leader. He is the only vampire who is widlely known to be a member of the cotery. The Toreadors in the krewe are responsible for handling the media. This also overlaps with their duties to the Toreador clan and the "prince", so they can do so without drawing undue attention to themselves. Janine and Jezebel acts as scouts, and do the more heavy handed domination if it is needed. The Krewe also keeps about a dozen well trained ghouls for muscle, and keeping the lid on things during the day. Their ghouls are among the best trained and loyal in the city, and gives the Krewe a real edge against other kindred.
The only time the Krewe acts openly is during Mardi Gras. They greet the massive influx of kindred into the city, warning the newer and younger ones to keep their feedings clean for the good of the city. Any threats are dealt with swiftly, and the Krewe makes it clear who was behind the retribution. Even so, all the Krewe all wear masks when policing the masquerade, to protect their identities.
The rest of the year, the Krewe works quietly and secretly. Through obfuscation, media monitoring and detective work, they watch for threats to the Masquerade. Few things escape their notice. Once they spot a threat, they rarely fail to find its perpertrator. Intitially, they will leave mysterious warnings for the vampire to cease their activities, such as notes in their havens, "hauntings" created with Obfuscate, or messages delivered by Dominated mortal allies of the target. If the vampire does not heed these warnings, the Krewe quietly eliminate them. Few fail to listen.
The elders are fond of this group, because it handles the daily maintenance of the Masquerade, leaving the elders time to scheme. Most of them would love to control this cotery, and each has made subtle attempts in the past. Harlequin is aware of this, and tries to play the elders off each other. His true goal is to maintain the city in its lawless state, which he enjoys, and which gives him his current power.
Members: Jordan, Millarca, Wyatt, supported by other Gangrel
Meeting Place: The Bayous and the Audobon Zoological Park.
Perceived Goals: None (this is a secret group).
Real Goals: Stopping environmental depredations in Louisiana.
Jordan Petrowski formed the Wrecking Krewe because he could no longer stand to see his beautiful state go to waste. He found a sympathetic ear in the Nosferatu Wyatt, and had embraced Millarca for this very purpose. Though initially they tried to act politically, some of the groups they worked against were adamant about profit over pollution. In time they moved into more violent industrial sabotage activities.
Typically, the Wrecking Krewe will concentrate on a single corporation at a time. Wyatt will use obfuscation to move in and investigate the physical site, while Jordan will study the corporate records of the company. Millarca will look for any kindred influence, to avoid unpleasant surprise. When they have gathered enough information, they engage in a small, careful campaign of minor sabotage, aimed at slowing production. Once they have the company's attention, they move in with a major strike, destroying important equipment (though careful not to release any pollutants into the environment). Along with their final strike, they leave a list of grievances the company must rectify or face further attack.
The Wrecking Krewe keeps their activities secret from other kindred because they regularly risk breaking the Masquerade. They do have allies however. The Wreckers and the Snake Hunters exchange favors on occasion, and each helps the other group out on particularly tough missions. Beagle also approves, and allows them to meet in the zoo. The Gangrel elder Jesse secretly supports their activities. He cultivates them in the hope that someday they will prove to be a useful tool in his own plans. Virginia is also becoming aware of their activities, and fears they will uncover her and Cartwright's control of the oil industry, and perhaps the reason for it.
Members: Isis, (Horus), Charlie, June, Cleo
Meeting Place: No set place.
Perceived Goals: Hunting Setites.
Real Goals: Hunting Setites.
The Snake hunters have formed more or less spontaneously, though Isis acts as their nucleus. Each of them has individual reasons to hate the Setites, and they find that hunting as a group is safer. Two of their number, June and Cleo, only come into the city to hunt Setites. In the last 10 years it seems that there have been more snakes than ever.
The Snake Hunters spend most of their time watching the standard feeding grounds and zones of control that Setites go for. They look for kindred influence amongst drug dealers or satanic cults. Once some kindred activity is spotted, they seek its source. Often they find their prey, though on occasion they have crossed other kindred of the city.
Once they find their targets, the Snake Hunters move swiftly, to prevent the Setites escape. Isis will ghoul a large number of mortals to use as cannon fodder, and the Hunters will swarm into the temple, guns blazing. Usually this is enough to destroy the hapless Snakes, but their last attack backfired painfully. Their were three Setites in the temple, rather than the usual one, and they were stronger than any the hunters has encounter before. The hunters were forced to retreat, and all of their ghouls and one number (Horus) were killed. When they returned, the Snakes were gone, and the hunters still seek this group of powerful Setites.
The elders approve of the Snake Hunters activities, because it saves them the trouble of hunting the snakes themselves. Annie in particular has been working to control the group, turning it into a strike force of their own, though she has had little success so far. Because the elders have left Setite hunting to this group, they are not aware at how common the snakes have become. Nearly everyone would be surprised to learn that half the members of the Snake Hunters are actually Sabbat.
Members: Bastian, Eris D., Scheherezade, Simon, Amanda, Dolores, Black Francis, Didi, Jonah, Joey Stern (Alejandro)
Meeting Place: None.
Perceived Goals: Promote Anarchy.
Real Goals: Varies by individual.
Most of the younger vampires get lumped in with the Anarchs. There are two large gangs of Anarch in New Orleans, and they are not on the best of terms. The KLF is made up of local, older and more powerful Anarchs, but their mistakes during the Anarch Wars have tarnished their reputation. The Lost Angels are younger, West Coast Anarchs who were the most violent and active, but are just barely hanging on. The two groups bicker constantly, but help each other out against outside threats.
There are some "younger" Anarchs that aren't part of either gang. Jonah has drifted away from the KLF, and is only a marginal member now. Joey Stern is friendly with both groups, but remains aloof and is a bit of a mystery (he is actually ancient Alejandro in disguise). The Ventrue Christophe sometimes makes Anarch noises, but no Anarchs believes him. Christophe's get, Jennifer, has also been interested in the Anarachs. There are rumors of a third Anarch gang in Baton Rouge as well.
Members: Bastian, Eris D., Scheherezade, Simon, sometimes Jonah
Meeting Place: Various "alternative" cafes.
Perceived Goals: Promote revolution.
Real Goals: Varies by individual.
The KLF (the name is Eris D's idea) is the oldest Anarch group in the city, founded by Bastian. The KLF invited other Anarchs to the city for the Anarch Wars, and their reputation has yet to recover from that disaster. Many Anarchs feel to the Archons of the Gangrel Justicar Alexis, and Anarchs elsewhere are leary of dealing with the KLF now. However, the older vampires of New Orleans consider the KLF to be the only Anarchs that are much of a threat, so they get a great deal of respect locally.
The KLF are mostly old, serious revolutionaries, and look down on other Anarchs as too frivolous. They tend to be extremely cautious, some might even say timid. They have established a fair amount of influence in the mortal world, however, and have undercut some elder power, mostly without the elder's knowledge. The KLF has many ties with the Brujah, and Annie considers them to be in her pocket. All of them are unaware of the Sabbat spy, Simon, in their midst.
The KLF mostly operate by trying to play the elders off each other. They carefully watch the typical areas of elder influence, such as city hall, the police and the media. Whenever they learn of some elder scheme, they do their best to screw it up, and then plant evidence leading to another elder. Most elders prefer to believe that another elder is blocking their plans, rather than accept the fact that a mere group of Anarchs could give them real problems. The KLF isn't always successful in blocking elder plans, but often that isn't really necessary. The paranoia between the elder that the KLF creates does more for their cause than anything else.
The younger members of the gang sometimes question the groups goals, however. It's all well and good to work against the elders, but how does this really further the cause of freedom for younger vampires. Bastian's standard answer is that it keeps the elders so busy fighting each other that they have no time to oppress their children. This answer is becoming increasingly unsatisfactory.
Members: (Susan), Amanda, Dolores, Black Francis, Didi
Meeting Place: Various hideouts known to Amanda.
Perceived Goals: Promote Anarchy. Party.
Real Goals: Survive. Keep the Underground Railroad open.
The Lost Angels was originally formed by Anarchs from LA that decided to stay in New Orleans after the Anarch wars. They did all right until they helped Raymond, the murderer of the Ventrue clanhead, to escape to the West Coast. The Ventrue retaliation killed their old leader, Susan. It has taken the groups years to recover from this defeat. They have a serious grudge against the Ventrue, and feel like they are at war with them. The Angels would be insulted to learn that the Ventrue have forgotten the gang in their internal bickering.
Only in the last year or so have the Angels become active again in kindred society. They have been seen in the city more often, and attended this year's Mardi Gras ball for the first time in a while. Most kindred believe they were hanging low out of fear of the Ventrue. The KLF in particular give them a lot of grief for this "cowardice". Though the Ventrue are the main reason the Angels have been quiet, things are a bit more complex than they seem.
The Angels have in fact been maintaining a secret Underground Railroad for the last 20 years. After the failure of the great Anarch revolts of the 60's, many Anarchs needed to flee West to the Anarch Free States. The Camarilla of the Rocky Mountains, the most vocal opponents of the Anarchs, made the land journey extremely hazardous. Though most Anarchs still travel overland to the West Coast, a few take advantage of the services the Lost Angels offer. The existence of the railroad is a tightly held secret. Not even the KLF know of it, though this is largely because of the stigma that this Anarch gang has.
The Angels have a few contacts in the shipping industry in New Orleans, and can arrange quiet overseas transport, either through the Panama Canal or by more circuitous routes, eventually arriving in the West Coast. Not only that, but New Orleans has become one of the primary ports of call for Anarchs travelling from Europe to the United States. The railroad was not the creation of the Lost Angels; influential Anarchs in the Free States and in Europe set it up originally. The Angel are an crucial link in the chain, however.
The Angels were deathly afraid the Ventrue would uncover the railroad in their hunt for the gang. They were also hard put to keep the railroad moving while dodging Ventrue attacks. This is the real reason why they have been quiet for the last few years. It was primarily Amanda's decision, and her caution doubtless saved the railroad. This has caused some strain in the cotery, however. The other Angels don't like being seen as cowards, and are ready to raise some hell. Amanda can't hold them back much longer.
Members: Accou, Marguerite, Bran, Katherine, Marisol, Claire, Harlequin, Virginia, Slane, Walter, Christophe, Tinker, Pinch, Millarca, (Rebecca)
Meeting Place: Elysium.
Perceived Goals: To interact with their social peers.
Real Goals: Varies by individual.
The Creoles are the vampiric society of New Orleans, and admittance and exclusion can mean everything to the socially concious kindred. They meet frequently in large social gatherings, having party after party. Some of their larger gatherings are attended by vampires from other areas, for New Orleans' vampiric culture is considered to be the most exquisite outside of Europe. Their most famous gathering is the Prince's Ball, held each year at Mardi Gras. Nearly every vampire in the city attends, including numerous guests from elsewhere, but the prince is unfortunately always occupied, so the party is hosted by Accou and the Krewe of Janus.
The core of the Creoles are the Ventrue and the Toreador, with the Toreador hosting most of the parties. Claire Claremont, Virginia and Harlequin have also earned a firm place in their ranks. Millarca, Tinker and Pinch often attend the social gatherings, but are not fully accepted. The Ventrue Rebecca's recent unwanted publicity has resulted to her exclusion for Creole circles.
The inner core of the Creoles is made up of the four "Grande Dames" of New Orleans kindred. Marguerite, Katherine, Claire Clairmont and Virginia fulfil the roles of Harpies (though no one would ever call them that). It is their opinion that carries the most weight, and essentially their decision that allows admittance to Creole society. Once they reach a consensus, most of the other Creoles will follow their lead, including Accou. Things are not quite that simple, however. The four Grande Dames don't think much of each other, and Marguerite and Katherine actively loathe one another. Sometimes other kindred can swing their opinion by playing them off each other, but this is a very tricky game. It can just as easily backfire, resulting in the ostracism of the manipulator.
One thing to remember about the Creoles is that their members have been together for a long time. At one point or another, almost everyone one have been out of favor, but it was only a matter of time before they were able to re-earn their place. Some Creoles have been in and out so many times the other kindred have lost count. Even temporary exclusion from the Creoles is not a trivial thing, though. For most of these kindred, and decade without decent company is a severe punishment indeed.
Members: Lafitte, Dr. John, Julia
Meeting Place: Lafitte haven and Temple.
Perceived Goals: None (secret group).
Real Goals: Corrupting the city and maintaining Lafitte's games.
The Setites have secretly hidden in New Orleans since the 1860's, smuggling others of their clan through the city and exerting a subtle, corrupting influence on the city. They have used various brain-washed Setites neonates as a smoke-screen to draw attention away from their true activities. As the Camarilla slaughters these throw-away decoys, the true Setites are left in peace. Julia, the latest of these decoys, has been particularly successful, surviving much longer than normal.
The two other Setites in this cotery are powerful and influential within Setites circles. Dr. John is the only one of the two that maintains an active presence in the city, posing as an Assamite assassin. He is the active arm of the clan of the city. He has contracted his services to various kindred in the city, and if the Setites ever need to eliminate someone, Dr. John can always act as if he is under a "contract". His reputation is firm enough that he can almost kill with impunity.
Lafitte is John's master, however, an it is his will that drives the Setites. Simple debauchery is not enough for Lafitte. Only century- long seductions are good enough for him, and Lafitte only corrupts mortals out of necessity or to keep in practice. Only kindred are worth his time, and only elders provide a challenge. He has been hidden in the city for as long as most of the elders, and has had a hand in more than one of their falls.
Members: Khalam, Clarise and Pierre
Meeting Place: Khalam's temple on the banks of Lake Ponchatrain
Perceived Goals: None (secret group)
Real Goals: Taking over New Orleans for the glory of Set.
The Tonton Macoute are a group of Setites recently arrived from Haiti. They were originally the power behind Papa Doc Duvaliers government, and controlled the feared Haitian secret police, also known as the Tonton Macoute. Political changes in Haiti forced them to flee, and they found New Orleans to be to their liking.
The cotery find Lafitte's tactics of slow corruption too timid, and they intend to take a more active role in corrupting the city. As a result, Lafitte and the Macoute have bickered, though they haven't actively fought each other yet. The Macoute have begun to build their power in both mortal and kindred society, despite Lafitte's opposition. The main thing slowing the Macoute down is the Snake Hunters. The Macoute had a violent run in with this group a few years ago, and it has installed a bit of caution in them.
Members: John Murrell (bishop), the Ahrimanes, Manuel's pack, several other nomadic packs scattered about the state.
Meeting Place: Various, but their main stronghold is Shreveport.
Perceived Goals: Fighting the Jyhad, and conquering New Orleans.
Real Goals: Meeting the hidden goals of the Sabbat leaders.
The Sabbat have controlled the rural areas outside of New Orleans for the last two centuries. Only their isolation, incohension and lack of support from the rest of the Sect have prevented them from attacking New Orleans in force. The Sabbat of Louisiana are torn between the powerful personalities of John Murrell and Muricia of the Ahrimanes. More details can learned abut them in the chapters on the Sabbat and the Ahrimanes.
Members: Muricia, June, Cleo, Gabrielle.
Meeting Place: No set meeting place, though they often meet at Muricia's mansion.
Perceived Goals: Helping the Sabbat survive in the Louisiana wilds.
Real Goals: Fulfilling the goals of the founder of their blood line.
The Ahrimanes are a Sabbat bloodline originating in this area. All were originally Gangrel, and after undergoing a special Rite, have power over spirits. Their knowledge of the wilderness is useful to the Sabbat, but most are more loyal to Muricia, the founder of their bloodline. The Ahrimanes have engaged in a long battle against the Setites of the city, working through the Camarilla Snake Hunters.
Members: Manuel, Harvey, Moses, Gabrielle, Speck, (Simon)
Meeting Place: They move a great deal, but spend most of their time south of the city in the bayous and islands of the coast.
Perceived Goals: Keeping an eye on New Orleans for the Sabbat.
Real Goals: Staving off immortal boredom.
Manuel's Pack is the group of Sabbat closest to New Orleans. One of their number is secretly a member of the KLF, a spy on that Anarch gang. The rest of Manuel's pack is supposed to keep a low profile, and spy on the city. Being what they are, they often get bored, and go "wilding" in the city, or prank someone. They have yet to be captured, but several New Orleans vampires have guessed who they are.
New Orleans is a city ruled by vampires, but other creature lurk in and around the city. For the most part, they avoid New Orleans, laying low when they are in the city, but there are many shape-shifters in the wilds of Louisiana. Note that the information in this chapter is incomplete, and is a measure of what the kindred might learn about the other creatures of New Orleans.
Louisiana is hell for the Garou. They are surrounded on all sides by enemies. The Camarilla of New Orleans and the Sabbat of rural Louisiana hunted them for centuries. There are many non-Garou shape-shifters in the Bayou of New Orleans, all of whom despise werewolves. The industry of New Orleans is given over nearly completely to the Wyrm; it is not for nothing that the industrial parks of Louisiana are called Cancer Alley.
As a result, there are few Garou in the area. There is one, embattled Sept in upstate Louisiana. There are virtually no Garou in New Orleans itself, not even the usual Bone Gnawers and Glass Walkers. There is a rumors of a single pack, recently come to the city from Alabama, in the desperate hope of doing something about the Wyrm infestation in this state. If this true, they are in for a desperate battle with no reinforcements.
There are still a few werecats in Louisiana, remnants of a once proud breed. They are mostly Qualmi and Pumonca, though there may be a few other tribes. The slow spread of civilization and its Wyrm controlled industry have destroyed the native people the Bastet once protected, and have pushed the Bastet themselves back into the Bayou. This has put them in conflict with the Mokol, who are fiercely territorial.
The Bayous of Louisiana are one of the last refuges of the Dragon Folk. The Mokol have lived in these swamps for as long as they can remember, and their memory is long indeed. They are incredibly powerful in battle, and fight fiercely against any intruders in their territory. They know little of the ways of modern man, however, and have yet to find a way to combat the slow draining of their homelands.
The lack of Garou presence makes New Orleans one of the havens for Ratkin. This despised shape-shifter breed find refuge in New Orleans, and they are quite numerous. Few understand this mysterious and secretive folk. They fearfully avoid most kindred, but there are rumors that they have some ties to the Nosferatu clanhead, Virginia. They may know something of the Setites as well.
The vampires of New Orleans know little of Mages, and most of their interaction with them is indirect. It seems that certain Mages are also interested in the Voudou community of New Orleans, and this brings them into subtle conflict with the Tremere, Brujah and Setites. There are also rumors of Technologically oriented Mages connected to Tulane university, but little is known of them.
The wraiths of New Orleans are numerous and powerful. New Orleans is the major stronghold of the Ivory Kingdom in the New World, and New Orleans is a major trade center between that kingdom and Stygia. The Ivory Queen claims all wraiths of African descent, and those who die in the New World often pass through New Orleans on their way to Africa. As one of the few necropoli in the south not under the control of the Hierarchy, it is a site of much intrigue.
Despite the huge number of vampires in the city, and occasional flagrant violations of the Masquerade, the mortals of New Orleans seem blissfully unaware of the Kindred. Many New Orleans natives are proud of their cities great heritage, but in the last few years, there has been a gradual exodus out of the city, as crime rates seem to be on the rise.
Though it has been quiet for many years, the Inquisitorial group founded by Father Sedella still exists. They know very well what they are fighting against, and struggle to preserve the secrecy of their organization at all costs. They have been largely successful. Only Alejandro is aware of the existence of the group.
The Order of St. George views itself as a training ground for vampire hunters. They have gathered extensive information about vampires over the centuries, and are happy to share this knowledge with others. It is rumored that they keep at least one kindred captive, carefully chained, both for study and "practice". Many of modern times greatest hunters have spent some time training in New Orleans.
Anyone who is likely to go "out in the field" is giving only limited information about the Inquisition itself, for fear that they may be captured. Hunters trained by the Order usually only have a vague notion of the organizations true goals. In this way, the Order protects itself from discovery.
Sedella's last directive to the Order was that it not attack the Kindred in force until it could be certain of wiping the scourge from the city completely. If they failed, the retaliation against innocent mortals would be too horrible. To this end, the Inquisition has gathered volumes of data out the vampires of New Orleans. They have even exchanged information with the Arcanum, though neither organization knows much about the other.
The Reavers are the Inquisition's most successful group of hunters. This trio of hunters was put together in the 30's, inspired by the success of Nathaniel Bordruff. They were taught some of the Orders greatest secrets, including a magickal ritual that obscures Auspex, preventing the Reavers from being tracked that way.
The Order originally intended to use the Reavers to finish what Bordruff has started, but then they learned of the appearance of a large vampiric army outside of New Orleans. Never having seen it's likeness, they bent all their resources to destroying it. They were largely successful, though a few escaped into rural Louisianna.
Since that time, the Reavers have moved through the small towns of Louisiana, looking for the descendents of the vampire army that escaped them. Every decade or so, they find some, and put them to the torch. To prolong their battle, they have taken to capturing a few of the vampires, and using their blood to prolong their existence. The Reavers know about blood bonds, and have learned that by mixing the blood of several vampires together, and not drinking too often, they can avoid it.
At the behest of the Order, the Reavers stay out of New Orleans. The Order knows enough about vampires to realize that the rural kindred and the city kindred do not get along, and the deaths of the rural kindred will not invoke a retaliation from their city kin. The Order has done it's best to keep it's deeper secrets from the Reavers, as it does with all it's hunters, but the Reavers are older and more experienced than most. The Order would be uncomfortable if they were to learn exactly how much the Reavers know about it.
Voudou is a religion with an ancient tradition in New Orleans, dating back to the middle of the 18th century. For most if its practitioners, it is just that: a religion. It has a tangled history, and is connected with Catholicism as well, though some modern Voudouns are pushing for a more pure, African style of worship. Voudou is often lumped together with other African based slave religions, such as Santeria.
Voudou has always maintained a close tie to the spirit world, and the beings they call the Loa. As a result, some Voudou practitioners have true power. It is these individuals that are of the most interest to vampires. There are two major groups of Voudou sorcerers: Houngans and Mambos, male and female priests for the Voudou community, and Bokors, independent sorcerers. Some individuals in both groups are quite skilled, with enough power to worry a vampire. Such individual would be technically Hedge Mages, though there may be a few true Mages in their number.
The Voudou community of New Orleans is hotly contested. The Brujah are interested in it for its importance to the black community. The Setites and Tremere interested in it because of the power it holds. There is evidence that Mages are interested in them as well. For their part, the Voudou community wishes to be left alone. They are more aware of the supernatural than most people, and what they know often frightens them.
Note: This is yet another chapter that may see some future development. Stacey and I have tossed around the idea of doing either a Rage across Louisiana, or Necropolis: New Orleans. Both would likely be rather strange: there are almost no Garou in Louisiana, and New Orleans is in the hands of the Dark Kingdom of Ivory. We'll see; there's still a good bit that can be done with the vampires.
The following are a random assortment of story ideas. They range from the least disruptive to the campaign to the most.
Every year at the end of Marde Gras, the prince of the city holds a magnificent ball. Nearly all the vampires of the city attend (even the Anarchs), and there are many guests from other cities as well. It is a cosmopolitan event, much anticipated each year. A truce is strictly enforced by the Janus Krewe, who police Mardi Gras in general.
The prince, unfortunately, always seems to be busy during ball, but he is represented by Lieutenant, Accou. Traditionally, the assembled vampires choose a King and Queen of the ball to preside in the princes absence. The royalty are always important vampires from another city, often Princes in their own rights.
Another tradition is that new kindred are presented to the King and Queen of the ball, in the absence of the prince. The royalty require the neonate make the usual oaths to uphold the laws of the Camarilla. Accou then welcomes to the city, as the representative of the prince.
There atmosphere of the ball is very lavish. The vampires rent an entire large hotel, specially prepared so that any guests can sleep through the next day. There are many Dominate vessels available. One large room is set aside for this purpose, with two sections: Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic. The Alcoholic vessel are commanded to drink various liquors, while the Non-Alcoholic vessels are forbidden to do so.
Every year the Krewe of Janus presents a new artistic piece, usually a performance of some sort, and often based on Kindred history. The performance are usually somewhat controversial, and occasionally scandalous, but the Toreador would not dare to miss it.
All in all, this is an excellent opportunity to meet the Kindred of New Orleans. Many elders are more accessible at this time that they are for the rest of the year. It would make an excellent introductory scenario.
The characters run into a pair of friendly Kindred who do their damnedest to get in good the group. These vampires are actually young Setites, and they will do whatever it takes to get the characters in their debt and corrupt them. They are under the control of the Tonton Macoute, and will try to use the players to whittle away at Lafitte's power base.
The Wrecking Krewe attempt to recruit player Gangrel, and possibly Brujah as well. Anyone who joins the Krewe will be up for wild nights of wrecking equipment in safe, eco-friendly ways ("Don't smash that panel. You'll dump all the sludge out!"), dodging police, workers and security, and breaking into corporate plants and labs to scout them out. They'll also be stretching the Masquerade to the breaking point, but hey, it'll be fun. You never know what you might find at those Pentex-owned factories.
The Snake Hunters attempt to recruit the players, perhaps just after the group has had a nasty run-in with the Setites. Anyone who joins will find themselves up to their ears in detective work, ambushes, subtle maneuvers and desperate midnight battles. There are many forces at work here, and the players might well be enmeshed in a three way battle between the Sabbat, Camarilla and the Snakes, with plenty of internally bickering on each side to keep things messy.
A group of Ricers notice a character during Mardi Gras and realizes the character is a vampire. The Ricers follow the character, and soon learn the identity (and possibly havens) of some of the others in the group as well. The Ricers just want to find out as much as they can about these wondrous creatures, and may eventually approach the group to ask for the embrace. If the group treats the Ricers badly, or the Ricers see the group do something brutal, messy or heinous, they may decide to make the vampires' unlives difficult. Blood Dolls can make extremely effective hunters, since they can easily get close to their prey, and few vampires take them seriously at all.
A character is out on the Mississippi in a small boat one night (perhaps disposing of a kill), when something rams the boat and the character is thrown in the water. A large shark then attacks the character, and takes a few chunks off before the character can escape. If there is an NPC vampire with the character, perhaps they are killed, causing more problems.
It becomes clear that the Mississippi is swarming with sharks this spring (yes, there are some sharks who can live in fresh water), and people are warned not to swim in Lake Ponchatrain. Any Kindred who make their havens on or near the water are having problems with random shark attacks. Is something in the water attracting all the sharks? Perhaps too many bodies are being dumped in the river. Is some vampire controlling the sharks as part of a strange plot? Rumors are flying that this or that vampire hasn't been seen for several nights, and they were last seen near the docks. Is someone taking advantage of the situation to eliminate some enemies?
Are the Rokea (were-sharks) involved, either controlling the sharks or attracted by the same thing? How will the Rokea and the kindred interact? What will the other shifters in the Bayou think about the situation?
Beagle has the last pair of Tasmanian wolves in the world, whom he preserves by feeding them his blood. Unknown to him, they are both Bunyip kinfolk, a lost tribe of werewolves. Were the Garou to learn of this, they would be desperate to recover the wolves. If the two wolves were to mate, their child would have a good chance of being a Garou, the last of the Bunyip tribe. What effect the century of vampiric blood would have on the young werewolf is uncertain.
The Brujah Tyler (from Chicago by Night) somehow finds out Alejandro is still alive. She remembers him from his days with the Sabbat. She travels to New Orleans, and either calls in a favor or blackmails him. Tyler is having problems with the Sabbat herself, and want Alejandro to send a few expendable pawns upriver to eliminate an annoying pack. Could this all be a ploy on the part of older vampires to draw New Orleans into the conflicts of Chicago?
Along the lines of the above, there a pair of vampires in Chicago that are originally from New Orleans: Raymond and Nathaniel Bordruff. Were either of them to return, the city would swarm like a hornet's nest. Many other vampires travel through New Orleans as well, and there are many cross-over possibilities.
The Camarilla decides for a second time to try to bring the city under control, and sends another Justicar, one with more political savvy. This time there are no Anarchs to balance him. The elders of the city jockey for position, trying to best take advantage of the situation. To complicate matters, the old Gangrel Alexis also returns to the city. Though he is no longer a Justicar, he is still powerful. Is he out for revenge, or is he loathe to see another Justicar succeed where he had failed?
Someone is moving about the city, revealing the secrets of the kindred. The city is moved to the verge of open war, as things best left hidden are unearthed. Is it a ploy of Alejandro to take over the city? Is it a move by the Setites? Is it the work of some as-yet-unrevealed Methusalah? Regardless of who is spreading the rumors, the city will never be the same afterwards.
I also apologize for the still far too numerous editing mistakes throughout the entire work. If you read of something so many times, you mind just turns to jello when you go over it again.
If anyone has any comments, of any kind, please let me know. Even if you just want to complain about my spelling. I'll answer questions as well.
Because I set myself a deadline, there is a lot of stuff that I wanted to write that just didn't get written. That's not to say it won't get written, I've a long summer ahead of me. Here are some things I'm thinking about adding on:
Also, two other big projects might be:
The last two I'm a little hesitant to commit to. If people have other requests amongst the first 8, let me know, and I'll try and prioritize.